Council - Regular Meeting

good morning everyone

OF THE NORTH MUNICIPAL COUNCIL ON TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8TH.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT, COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE HAVE THREE NEW APPOINTMENTS.

STARTING ON PAGE 62, WE HAVE AN APPOINTMENT TO THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT. IS MS. CARTER IN THE AUDIENCE? YES. PLEASE STEP TO THE PODIUM. Ms. Carter, you are being appointed to the board of adjustments. Do you have an opening comment for the council?

Good morning, council president, council members. I just want to say thank you for the appointment. Born and raised in the city of Newark, recent law school, Rutgers Law School graduate. So I look forward to working on behalf of the community to make sure I bring sound judgment and fair decisions to this board.

Thank you, Council President. I just want to congratulate Ms. Carter. She would be an excellent addition to the board. She is North through and through. She is bright, intelligent and committed to helping us move forward. And so I thank her for agreeing to serve. Yes.

So I'm assuming Councilwoman Bay is going to move it. I'd like to second that because I think she would be an excellent.

We'll run a second there. And any other questions?

I guess I'll third it.

Yes. On a personal note, I want to congratulate you, too. I'm so proud that you're a lawyer now. That makes a difference to our young people throughout the city, that someone can achieve. And here's an achievement. and now serving on the planning board, that means a lot. It sends a message that things do happen in the city of New York. Congratulations, very proud of who you are as a young lady who I've seen grow from an elder to understand how our young people are doing so well and achieving. Congratulations.

Thank you. Thank you. On page 76, item 8A, we have an appointment to the Caribbean Commission. Is Mr. Bertrand in the audience? Rashawn Bertrand?

Not appearing.

All right. Lastly, on page 79, we have an appointment to the Federally Qualified Health Center Board of Commissions. Ms. Ejalisi? Am I pronouncing it right? No?

Not appearing?

Not appearing. Not appearing. We will hold off on those two. All right, council president, council members, we are on page three of the agenda. Item five, reports and recommendations of city officers, boards, and commissions.

Any questions? Seeing none, continue.

ordinances on public hearing, second reading, and final passage. 6P-SFA is an ordinance granting a 25-year tax abatement to 636-MLK Urban Renewal LLC for a project located in the Central Ward to construct three new buildings, each a four-story low-rise multifamily dwelling consisting of a total of 42 residential units.

Any questions? Councilwoman Banks?

Thank you, Council President. Not necessarily a question, so to speak, but just knowing that I just wanted to put it on the record that we know it's been stated publicly that the mayor has put forth some proposing to change the AMI and increase affordable housing. in the city of Newark. And so we want to make sure that the developers moving forward as they approach the city for development, that they keep that in mind and know and understand that all of this is going to look different moving forward. And so we need to start having those conversations and they need to start planning towards that because all of this is happening right now. We know that this is already in the pipeline, but as we move forward to making sure that what the mayor has proposed comes to fruition as far as affordable housing and changing the AMI and making sure that North residents are able to afford what's being proposed, that everyone that comes into the city to develop, they need to start preparing themselves. So I just needed to say that.

Thank you. Any other questions? Continue, Madam Clerk.

B is an ordinance requiring a deed restrictions and ensuring that any purchaser of the city property sold for the purposes of redevelopment complies with any and all applicable best efforts workforce requirements. Sponsored by Councilman Council. Second by Councilman Kelly.

Any questions? If none, continue.

C is an ordinance authorizing the city of Newark to accept corrective deeds from the Newark Housing Authority, sponsored by Councilwoman Bay, second by Councilwoman Jackson.

Any questions? Continue.

D is an ordinance amending Live Newark Loan Forgiveness Program for advancing closing costs to increase the amount of the closing costs loan for eligible applicants under the Live Newark Loan Forgiveness Program. Sponsored by Councilman Council. Second by Councilman Crump.

Any questions?

Yeah. Quick question. I just want to know, can we, clerk, can we get how many ward by ward, how many residents have been received to live in Newark assistance probably over the last three years? I just want to know how much funding has gone into each ward, ward by ward. And also moving forward, I want to know what the outreach will be to let the residents know specifically, because I have a lot of people in the West Ward that's asking me, what the outreach will be done so that the West Ward renters who are capable of becoming homeowners actually know how to receive this assistance.

Madam Clerk, as noted by Councilman Kelly. Yes, sir. Councilwoman Jackson.

I just have one quick question. I've had some residents who have gone through this process and then were asked for a good faith payment. after the closing and everything was done, asking to come up with $5,000 to $7,000 additional. I just need somebody to tell me what is that and why. Why would a person go through all of the process, be approved, got the down payment and all of that done, and then now all of a sudden you want a good faith payment after I just put out thousands of dollars. So if that's a part of this, that needs to be corrected as well, because there's a lot of folks who get to that part and not sitting on $5,000, $7,000. They don't have it. So I don't know what part of it. I may be a little off on this. If I am, correct me, but we have a program And I think it's a part of this where we're asking people for good faith payments. And I think that is so unfair to get a resident to go through this process, make it to the homeownership, get everything lined up, and then again, ask them at the end of the process for a $5,000, $7,000. I've had two residents contact my office. So if you can give me some or give us some clarification, I appreciate it.

Thank you. Good morning, Eric Pennington, business administrator. WITH RESPECT TO THE LIVED NORC PROGRAM AND THE ASSISTANCE THAT IS PROVIDED BY THE CITY OF NORC, THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT THAT THERE BE A GOOD FAITH DEPOSIT MADE. YOU MAY BE REFERENCING SOMETHING ELSE, BUT IT IS NOT RELATED TO THIS PARTICULAR ORDINANCE. SO I'M NOT AWARE OF THAT. THANK YOU.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?

E IS AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THE WAYNE PUMP STATION UPGRADE PROJECT.

Any questions?

I have a lot of concerns about all the contracts we have been doing in the department for major upgrades and all that kind of stuff. So I got two questions. Who from the city on the construction side is monitoring what's going on at each of these projects? $7.4 million probably isn't a lot of money for the weigh station, but I need to make sure, as we have several in here today, that we are getting things complete and they're being done properly. I see a lot of repetitive contracts. And I don't know if this is the first Wayne pump station, because this one doesn't have any detail with it, but I just want to be sure who's watching, who's monitoring and making sure that the things that need to be done at the Wayne station are being done.

Good morning, Eric Pennington, business administrator. As I'm sure you're aware, the upgrades to the water system are managed and monitored by our water and sewer utility. The director of that department, Kareem Adeem, is here, and he should be able to address any specific questions and concerns you have, but they are diligent in monitoring all the contracts they let. But if it's the council's purview, I'll have Director Adeem come up. Director Kareem.

GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL PRESIDENT, COUNCIL MEMBERS, COUNCILWOMEN, JACKSON. THIS PROJECT IS MINED ABOUT THIS DEPARTMENT OF WATER AND SEWER UTILITIES. THIS IS A STATE-FUNDED PROJECT. NEW JERSEY INFRASTRUCTURE BANK AND NJDP. SO IT'S ADDITIONAL MINING BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION. THIS IS THE WAYNE PUMP STATION. THIS IS A REGIONAL PUMP STATION WHERE WE USE TO BRING WATER FROM partner in North Jersey District water supply, and also supply water to anybody in the region that may need water when it's a drought. This project is also one of the projects that Most of our projects get some type of principal forgiveness, anywhere from 50 to 90%. So although we're required to put the money up front, the state does reimburse us when we get principal forgiveness, anywhere from 50 to 90%. We just need to get the project done. Most states say that the project has met all the qualifications and goals. and you're responsible for vetting the contractor we've used this person before or i'm not trying to be the department of water and sewer utility when this is against state funded project it goes out for for bid um we've we evaluated and get the lowest responsible bidder it's already concurred from the city and the state against the dp and they tell us that it's okay to award this contract that we award The DP in conjunction with the water department and affirmative action to submit our monthly reports so we can get reimbursed in the price

Okay, thank you.

Any other questions? Councilman Kelly. How you doing, Director? Does this project improve the flooding sewer reliability for all of the wards?

No, this is in Wayne, New Jersey. This is a pump station that brings water in from North Jersey District Water Supply into the city's distribution system.

So it brings it to the distribution into North.

Drinking water. This is a drinking water project.

Okay, but it services all of the wards of the entire city.

The entire city. And our water customers. Gotcha.

Cool.

Thank you. Any other questions? Thank you. Thank you, Director.

Next. F is an ordinance amending amusement to establish a comprehensive regulatory framework for short-term event spaces and party rental venues. Sponsored by Councilman Ramos. Second by Councilman Council.

ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY.

CONTINUE. G IS AN ORDINANCE AMENDING HOUSING CODE BY ESTABLISHING THE PROPERTY COMPLIANCE COST RECOVERY PROGRAM.

Any questions?

Thank you, Council President. I just wanted to know if somebody could come up and give us a, I won't say detailed detail, but some explanation on this ordinance. I think it came in as an added start last time, so we really didn't have a full understanding and briefing of it.

Anything from the administration?

I know it was deferred last time.

Eric Pennington, business administrator. I don't have the answer. I don't think that you're looking for. Could you give me a little more specific information?

What does this ordinance do? I think that's pretty much.

All right. I'm going to have to have the department address that. I can either present something to you in writing or have them COME UP A LITTLE BIT LATER ON AND GIVE YOU THAT INFORMATION.

THANK YOU. IF WE CAN GET THAT JUST BEFORE TO APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU.

COUNCILMAN KELLY.

I'M GOOD.

COUNCILMAN KELLY.

I'm good. I just wanted to, uh, this, this was to the prior. I just wanted to, um, to the prior ordinance, um, uh, six P S F F. I just wanted the list of all of the party event places in, in, uh, in the west ward. Well, we can actually, we can get it for the end, you know, all of the, all of the council, but I just want to see which party place lists are in the west ward, because I've come across a couple of businesses who claim to be

party places and they don't look like party places so i just want to know you know yeah uh mr president uh that that's the reason why i sponsored this is that we do have a number of businesses that are acting as short-term party rental places they're obtaining a basic business license from the city they are not licensed as dance halls or other kinds of establishments that would authorize these kind of venues. They're popping up in neighborhoods all over the city. Some of them have some pretty serious health and safety concerns that have been expressed to us by patrons. So through this ordinance, we're authorizing the city to create a specific licensing requirement for these establishments. I know in the North Ward, there are at least three that are operating right now. And I guarantee you all of them are operating on their basic business license.

There's an ordinance on the banquet halls and licenses, but I don't believe that collections have been done in years because there was a, in terms of that ordinance, but there it was at that time that parking had to be sufficient. that had to be, it couldn't be in a residential. There was a lot of back in the day where people, it started at Don Miguel's Banquet Hall because we started that one at the time because it went from a Final Legion Hall to a dance hall. And it was really a mess at Broomfield Avenue. So we were requesting at the time, which is in the Central Ward, back then northward so we need to look into these banquet halls if they have licenses and at the time there was insurance that had to be uh and if you were serving alcohol the city abc would have to approve uh that a banquet hall as a banquet so we need to look at that i thank councilman ramos for that because they're popping up everywhere every single place. And then they come out two o'clock in the morning. And it's just it's really people who work and people who go to work every day. It's hard to can have that around their neighborhoods. Anything else?

My next question, real quick, is the... What were we on? We were on G. For the bad landlords, I just want to know if... they have re and i'm asking this specifically because of a property in the west ward but if they have repeat violations and the city has to come out and for what extraordinary reason spend money would the bad landlord on that list have to pay reimburse the city for the money that sort of like the cleaning liens that we do would they have to pay for the things that we, and I'll give you an example. This past winter, we took, the administration took heaters to Georgia King Village, probably 25, 30 heaters. And I'm assuming that cost a little bit of money. If they were on the bad landlord list, would those landlords have to reimburse the city of Newark for, or the person paying for those things?

ERIC PENNINGTON, BUSINESS ADMINISTRATOR. WITH RESPECT TO THE NEW LEGISLATION THAT IS ATTEMPTING TO MAKE THE LANDLORDS RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING FOR REPAIRS AND OTHER ITEMS, IT WOULD BE INCLUSIVE anything that needs to be done to bring their apartments and the buildings up to up to specs up to code um i don't know if we contemplated specifically having to provide heaters but it certainly sounds like that would be uh consistent with what they would have to uh pay the city back for if we're expenses that we incurred understood thank you beer you're welcome and if i could just while you need to clarify two more things

Currently at Georgia Cane Village, they have the water shut off for the last three weeks from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. They have not provided those residents with any water. We have seniors walking from Georgia King Village to McDonald's, Wendy's, and those restaurants in that area to use the bathroom.

But let me ask the- I'm almost done, just real quick.

So I came in, do my due diligence, went to UCC, spoke to Cole. We have a permit for five new boilers. But they are breaking the walls inside the Georgia King Village to replace piping with those tenants in the building. So I don't know why Georgia King Village is not on the bad landlord list, why we haven't put that building in receivership. What's the problem? I'm glad the state put Garden Spires in receivership. I don't know what's the problem, but these tenants right now, for the last month almost now, have not had water all day long. That's children, that's families, and that's elders who have oxygen, et cetera, that have no water. Councilman Kelly and I talked about this about two weeks ago, and I know because I didn't bring it up to him again, he assumed we abated that, but we have not, and it's getting worse because the water's off again this morning. And we cannot continue to have residents. So if this does not include making Georgia King village, not only reimbursed the city, but in bad acts and us continually having to go over there as well as I know that the state is not our issue, but the state needs to be reimbursed because they've been out there four times in the last six weeks at requests. So. something needs to be done. And then the other piece is they don't have a permit in Mr. Pennington or plumbing. And so they're in violation of letting us know that they're doing construction and and having them held accountable, not only for those permits, but the process that should be used and what we should be demanding of them while all of this is going on. So I appreciate you letting me just finish that last little bit, but please, something has to be done to address these landlords doing what they want to do. and not being respectful of our process, not only the fines for them not filing, but when they lie, because that's what it is, when they lie and omit things that they're doing and don't tell us, there should be a penalty for that as well.

Again, Eric Pennington, Business Administrator. With respect to that question, Councilwoman Jackson, I'd have to do a little bit of checking to see if in fact the period of time that the owner is allowed to have the water off to replace the boilers from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., I think you said. That seems to me to be excessive. But I can't speak on behalf of the owners of Georgia King Village, but I can say that on one hand, we have held them to account for not having sufficient heat. We're getting ready to go into the heating season. And if indeed they are replacing the boilers, that's a good thing. The bad thing is if the residents are without water for 14 hours in a 24 hour day, that does seem to be excessive. I can certainly, I think what might be best is if we get into what the information is, whether or not they do have permits. It's my understanding that they do. I would have the director of engineering address that, but let me have him take a look into that and get responses to you between today and tomorrow as to whether or not they are in compliance with permit applications, whether they have plumbing permits and whether or not the water actually is off for 14 hours and whether or not that's reasonable under the circumstances. And we'll commit to get that information to you and the council.

Okay. Thank you. I do have the permit for the boilers. They did not have a permit for plumbing. And again, my other concern is when you're breaking balls, that building is old. Those buildings are 50 years old. and you're breaking into them, that's asbestos moving and anything else that they've been having these leaks for years. I'm very concerned about the health and safety of those residents because that asbestos and other environmental issues get into your lungs, it's hard to get those out. And we got enough illness going on in this city and enough air pollution.

I certainly appreciate your concern. I'm not adopting the comment that there's friable asbestos as part of this.

construction we'll have to look into that as well but i believe my understanding is they're in compliance but we'll get that information to you and i'll have the engineering director provide that information how's it with kelly you had some questions um just just to add on um i i do agree you know we've been dealing with georgia king for so long on with the heat concerns and water and the plumbing issues uh i do agree with you that it's a good thing that they're working um on the system going into the winter season But I did get reports that the water was on this weekend, just no hot water this weekend. So, you know, Councilwoman Jackson is right for the 14 hours. And, you know, that was a time period. but this weekend the water was on just no hot water but that's still important you know you still need hot water to do things so um it's definitely we have to look into it and just make sure that they're doing the things that they're supposed to do over at georgia king village

absolutely thank you continue h is an ordinance to acquire a temporary work area easement on privately owned property for the construction of the joseph g manish pasaic river waterfront park and historic area good questions continue J is an ordinance authorizing the mayor and or his designee to authorize the sale and transfer of city property.

Any questions? Yeah, none. Continue.

Yeah, Mr. Chair. Yeah, I sponsored that item.

I'll second that. You're a seconder. We're in a seconder. Alistair and Crump as a second. Continue. You read so bad.

Thank you. Resolutions. 7R1A through E are temporary emergency appropriations. A is for the recycling grant. B is for the heat island grant. C is for upgrades to the YMCA. D is for the operating expenses. And E is for the UIC grant.

Any questions?

Yeah, Mr. Chair, can we get a report on what we are doing with the recycling, you know, Tundish grant funds?

Madam Clerk, as noted by the council. Yes, sir. And then one more thing. My pet peeve. I love you, Mr. Dean back there. I don't know what we're going to do, but we need to do something today. Folks are stealing the recycling. And this needs to stop. So I'm asking, first of all, Newark residents, because I stop them from taking on my block. I tell them to keep it moving. They are taking bags and bags and bags. And let me tell you something, as we are entering into this budget, tax issues, we need every dime of revenue we can get. I run them off my block on Telford and Smith. They can't pick no cans and bottles up. Can't do it. And when they go into your recycling canes, that's your property. I'm going to be easy, Mr. P, because I know I'm approaching something that you'll tell me I can't say, so I'll be easy, sir. But we need that revenue, and I think we need to come up with something, particularly since we have a grant for recycling, to not only encourage everyone to recycle private, public property, ask the housing authority to do their due diligence with their residents in recycling, because most of them do not. uh we need to encourage that because that's funds that's money to go back into the general fund but we need to find a way to deputize another position mr p if we could someone to work per ward with residents to get our recycling under control because they have taken hundreds of bags thousands of bottles that could be used for revenue to hire to clean up to bring coverage on things that we don't have. We need to do that and we need to do that now. Thank you.

Mr. I'm sorry. I needed an update and a plan moving forward on what we're going to do with the clean community funds. because the islands are a mess in the South Ward. And I repeatedly ask for signage. We still don't have signage. It's like we say stuff up here and no one respects what we say up here until you get down from here and then it becomes an issue. We asked for a signage on those islands. We asked for a plan to get those islands clean. I remember doing a budget hearing. I specifically gave a plan of movement that even with the Clean Community Funds that you can hire quality of life ambassadors and use those dollars to help keep those islands clean at all times and also issue blue tickets to individuals who are violating what is happening on those islands. So we have to have a very serious and robust plan as we move forward about the quality of life. I know intently in the South Fork, but specifically all over the city.

I'm going to go as noted by council. We need to invite that department in so that we can talk. Council has brought the issue. I knew Mr. Townsend, I know Councilwoman Jackson. So we need to bring maybe at our special next week, I'll bring that department to explain because I know that as council has said this, we may say some things and then It's not interpreted or acted on. And the people continue to say, what are you guys doing? Is that what you're saying, right, Councilman? So again, Mr. B.A., if... You can look into that too.

Yes, and just briefly, I would ask, Eric Pennington, business administrator, I would ask that the specific concerns raised by councilmen and councilmen be sent to have the clerk send it to us in writing. I actually arise just to respond to the comment that nobody takes seriously what you guys say up there. I take a little issue with that. um in fact i take a big issue with it we respond and address the concerns that come from the council and try to do so preemptively indeed the mayor has directed us to make sure that we have uh the island particularly in the south ward addressed if that hasn't been done to the satisfaction of councilman council yet i'm happy to look into it more specifically uh that's director hadley's uh responsibility He has been given a short grace period, but he understands that grace period is over and there's work that has to be done. And we will we will get to that with respect to the islands and other issues that that you raised here. But I just want to assure council and council and other council members that we take seriously your concerns you represent the people and the constituents in the city of Newark as do we and we will work with you to make sure that those issues are addressed and taken care of and certainly I invite any council person to bring to my attention where you feel that you haven't gotten an appropriate response.

Council Ramos. Mr. President, I agree with Councilman Council. I have the same issue with the mediums. We're familiar. A few years ago, you guys had private contractors that would come in and do landscaping and some of the mediums around the area. Is that something you guys don't do anymore? Do you rely strictly on city parks and grounds crew. And I know there's a limited crew. They have issues sometimes with equipment. Like, what's the strategy to make sure that these public mediums are cleaned up on a regular basis? They should be on some kind of schedule, right?

That's correct. Again, the plan for Medians, entryways, and the corridors that come into the city should be given to you. I will make sure that our Department of Public Works puts that together and gets it to the council. There is a plan. The mayor has directed us to make sure that we get those taken care of immediately. Those will be part of the summer cleanup. It sounds like it hasn't gone as well as the counseling expects. And if it's not living up to your expectations, then it's not living up to ours. And we'll get that information to you.

and one other question i know my colleague has mentioned the issue of recycling do do we know how much money the city actually generates through recycling is it a cost to the city um you know i i it's very popular these days that you do have individuals that come and and i have to tell you i believe in the ward they're more helpful than anything else because they reduce the amount of recycling that the city has to pick up they they're pretty clean in how they go about and do their business um you know so is is it a is it a cost to the city to to to recycle does it generate like a crazy amount of money as far as revenues like like What's the reality as it relates to recycling?

Thank you for that question. Recycling, the disposal of recycling costs the city money. We do not have a contract with the receiver of the recycling where they pay us back. We had that at one time, but the most recent iterations of contracts that we have with the recycling companies does not allow. I don't want to say that they have not been to pay us for the recycling. My understanding is that the people who are taking recycling or stealing recycling, as some people say, they're taking it out of state and they are getting reimbursed for that recycling. Not not here. We can certainly look at whether or not there's an opportunity for the city to make money off of the recycling. But that has not been our experience over the last couple of years.

thank you mr b it will no no just just clarity ba so you're saying the recycling that we do in the city from our homes the city does not get money back from that we do not we pay to have the recycling

When we dump it, there's an amount that we have to pay.

And I'm asking that because I just ran somebody out of my recycling the other day. And if the city is not getting paid, why run them out? Like Councilman said, they're clean. They don't really, you know what I mean? So if we're not getting paid, I don't have to run outside anymore.

Sure. As we look into letting the contract again, we'll look to see if there's an opportunity for us to receive revenue. But that has not been the responses that we have received in the last few years. But we'll look at it again.

I think we should look into that, though, because we're losing a lot of money, especially.

Well, are we losing a lot of money? That's the question. If you know that we're losing money and you could present to me where we could make that money back, I'd be happy to look into it. We're looking to it as well. But to generally say that people are stealing our recycling, we're losing or we're losing a lot of money. Just throwing that out there without the data to support it. And. is problematic, but I'm happy to get that information.

I get what you're saying, but I think it goes back to what Councilman Council said. If we can get the tonnage that we are receiving it in recycling, then probably half of that is going throughout the city from people taking it so we can be able to generally

I THINK COUNCILMAN COUNCIL IS REFERRING TO THE RECYCLING GRANTS, THE TONNAGE GRANTS THAT WE GET THAT WE HAVE TO EXPEND FOR RECYCLING CANS TO HELP WITH THE RECYCLING AND TO EDUCATE THE CONSUMER. I BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT COUNCILMAN COUNCIL IS REFERRING TO. HE CAN CERTAINLY SPEAK FOR HIMSELF. BUT THAT'S DIFFERENT THAN I THINK WHAT COUNCILMAN JACKSON AND YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, US ACTUALLY TAKING THAT RECYCLING AND SELLING IT SO THAT THE CITY GETS REVENUE. THAT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN COUNCILMAN COUNCIL'S POINT. UNDERSTOOD.

Right. So lastly, just what I want to say is you said at one time the contract did reimburse us. So I'm going to strongly tell the administration that we should not enter into contracts like that. The amount of recycling that goes on at every level in this city, senior buildings, et cetera, my block, block parties that just happened. It's no way in the world we're letting that kind of money just go through our fingers. um i'm just going to strongly suggest that we need to look at the contracts we need to look at better bids and we need to find somebody who wants to help us do that i know at one time director dean did say that the state needs to change the reimbursement schedule all well and fine i'm a lobbyist let's go tell me what i need to tell them because it's going to happen because we can't keep letting things that are revenue generators, you talk about that all the time and not come up with sometimes crazy solutions, but solutions that I think will work in terms of enforcement. I think we need to look into that. And when that contract ends, if it ends next week, next month, whenever, I don't know what the buyout is if we come out of the contract now, but we need to look at something that's bringing revenue back into the city. We should not enter into one more contract when it really comes to things that we have to offer that that's not giving us a bang for our buck we should not be doing that and whatever the contract was that we have that was reimbursing us please present those to us so that we can talk to those companies because this needs to happen it's just too much money they're not taking the bottles and they're not taking the recycle because they're not making money they have created a whole business out of this. And yeah, maybe they might be driving them to New York, but we need to create something here in New Jersey. Irvington just opened up a recycling center right there on Court Street. So something, something, we're missing something in the mix here. You know, just we need $12. I'm trying to get $10.

So the concerns that you and other council members raise are valid concerns. We want to maximize the opportunity for the city to have income because it reduces the burden on the taxpayers. The one caveat I will say is that we are constrained by the procurement laws. We can't just go out and say, hey, I like this company because maybe they're going to pay us a dollar more than somebody else. We have to go through a bid process. There are procurement laws that we have to follow. When we put out the bid specs, whoever is the lowest responsible bidder lowest responsible and responsive bidder, we have an obligation to go with them. We're not in private industry. We have to enter into contracts that are consistent with those laws. Now, to that point, if we need to revise the specs in order to get more of what it is you're looking for, I'm happy to work with you on that. And if there are companies that we should look at, we can do that outside of the bid process. Once the bid goes out, we can't do what it is you're talking about. We can't say, hey, we're going to adjust this bid so that we can get a company in here who might be able to give us some more money. We have to do that in advance. And I'm happy to take those suggestions from you, incorporate that into the bid specs. You're welcome. Thank you. Next item.

F through P are all purchasing contracts. F is a state contract for heavy duty vehicles. G is a state contract for police vehicles. H is a state contract for rubberized safety surfaces. I is an extension for steel water transmission. j is a co-op agreement for steel water transmission j is a co-op agreement for artificial turf k is a big contract for L is a bid contract for salt. M is a bid contract for dental supplies. N is a bid contract for paint supplies. O is a bid contract for fire equipment. And P is a bid contract for water meters.

Yeah, Mr. Chair, 7R1B had a question. I was going through legislature and I did not notice the locations for the grant applications for the micro forest and cool roof. If it's possible, if we can get where some of those locations are going to be at, they're going to be operating from this grant, I would appreciate it. Councilman Jackson.

uh b i would like to know how many employees we hired for this and are those roofs completed um i have one more the artificial turf that we're replacing at the field hold on i'm getting to the letter 1J, have we tested the turf before? Have we made sure that there's no PFAs in this turf? And are we making sure that it's safe? There's a lot of concern with turf going on across the country, the state, and I want to make sure that this turf we're going to relay is good turf. As well as J, In reference to the SALT, is that coming from the 2025 budget because we have money left over? Because it says from the 2025 budget, Department of Public Works. Is that why it's coming from 2025? And if so, what amount do we have set up for 2026 for the SALT? And I believe that is, yeah, that's it for my concerns. Thank you.

Madam Clerk is noted by Council getting her some response on these questions. Thank you. Council Kelly.

Thank you, Council President. My concern is H. I know we're doing a removal and replacement of rubberized safety surfaces in various locations throughout City of Newark. I just wanted to know the list of Westward RECREATION PLACES, PLAYGROUNDS, OR PARKS. I KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF COUNTY PARKS IN THE WEST, BUT IS ANY OF THOSE IN THAT $3 MILLION, ARE ANY OF THOSE SPECIFICALLY FOR THE WEST WARD?

DIRECTOR. GOOD MORNING. DONNELL REDDING, DIRECTOR OF RECREATION, CULTURE, AFFAIRS, AND SENIOR SERVICES. I'm going to give you a list of all of our locations, all the council members in terms of all of our fields and all those different things that we are baiting for our recreational sports services and things of that nature. Also, to your question, Councilwoman Jackson, not just that the turf is just a regular turf and the safety of it, we also have what we call cool play. Uh, because since the city, we have heat deserts, right? And these fields also now, uh, take some of the temperature in terms of when the children is playing, it kind of not bring the heat up. So these are specific fields and turf and that specific materials that we use to ensure that our children are not just have a safety perspective, but also have a cool perspective as well.

Yes. Thank you director. CONTINUE.

Q AND R ARE APPLICATIONS ACCEPTANCE OF GRANT FUNDS. Q IS FOR THE RESIDENTIAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAM AND R IS FOR THE DATA DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.

ANY QUESTIONS? JUST BASICALLY THE SAME TYPE OF QUESTION. I JUST WANTED TO KNOW, I KNOW A LOT OF THESE PROGRAMS AND A LOT OF THESE THINGS COME BEFORE US. And, you know, just from this being my second term, I noticed that sometimes it doesn't make it to the West Ward. So that's my question. You know, as the West Ward Councilman, I just want to know, you know, can we get like a list or something to let us know how the West Ward is included in these type of things? you know, specifically for homeowners and, you know, because we deal with a lot of seniors and homeowners and small landlords who can benefit from these programs. I know that we've done a program about solar at some of our senior buildings and we had some of our seniors who actually live in homes wanting to know to get on this program. I tried to get on some of these programs and I guess with me and my wife together, we make too much money, but I guess, some other people in our constituents in the west ward they can benefit from these programs they're very good programs so i just want to make sure that the people who call my office the residents who call my office that they know how to be included in these programs so okay noted i'm quick noted

S is accepting donation or a gift to provide funding to support the efficiency of grant processes across departments.

Any questions?

And then continue. 7R2A through S are all private sales and redevelopment agreements. A is new construction of a two-family home with market rate rentals in the South Ward. Any questions?

Yeah, Ms. Chair, I'm good with this. Councilman?

Okay. B is new construction of a two family home to be sold at an affordable rate of 80% of area, medium income in the South ward.

Yeah. Let's share our sponsor. A and B Sarah.

Second, second bikes. Continue.

C, is new construction of a two-family home and a four-family home both to be sold at market rate in the Central Ward?

Good question. Virginia?

D, is...

I APOLOGIZE. JUST ONE QUICK QUESTION. HOME SUPPORT GROUP LLC, JUST TRYING TO FIND SOME INFORMATION BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH FOLKS ARE COMING HERE TO BUILD SOME OF THEM USING NORC ADDRESSES, IT'S HARD TO FIND INFORMATION ON SOME OF THESE GROUPS. I JUST WAS WONDERING IF I COULD GET A CLARIFICATION, NOT GOING AGAINST YOU, COUNCILMAN COUNSEL. It's the home group LLC. I didn't find them in Warren, New Jersey, but I did find them in Hopper Park. Come on, I'll pack on. There you go. I did a couple of times when I was living. I have them now as home builders. Oh, yes. Is there a representative here? Thank you so much, Council Colleagues. Is there a representative here from this organization? And what is the actual name of the organization that's doing this building? Because in my research, I could not find it in Warren, but I did find it in Halifax. Is that person or the business here?

You're out of order, please. Excuse me, you're out of order. There's a time for public session and you will have given that opportunity. We're not going to have this. Please. Councilwoman Bay.

I was going to say, if I look to Councilwoman's request, they're not here to ask for that information to be forwarded to the council.

Okay. So I'm going to request through the clerk that we have the information on this group forwarded to all council members. You know, just like to see that people are dealing with us in good faith and correct information. Okay.

As long as I'm counseled.

Yeah, we have a really large number of properties that are on the list today for sale. And my question is always the same. Like, you know, how do people find out about properties that are available through the city? And I know the response is always the same. You know, they submit a letter of intent. And my recommendation for years has been that the city should follow some kind of process, you know, in order to make sure that The community is aware that we have these 15 properties that are available. These are the appraisals on these properties. And like that, it levels the playing field as far as people having access to information and also an opportunity to compete For for some of these projects, and the city may put itself in a better position financially to get more money for these properties. And also to negotiate more affordability as part of these subsidized sales, because all these sales are subsidized to some extent, right? Because the property values in Newark. are at a peak right now. So even if you're selling a piece of property at $20 a square foot on the private market, that property sells for a lot more money if it was done owner to owner. So again, I really feel that we are shortchanging ourselves by not following a process. And I know we're trying to transact as many of these properties as possible in order to help on the revenue side with this year's budget. But when you have this many properties that are for sale, that are being transacted at a council meeting, and I can't tie this to any process, a rolling sale, an auction, it's concerning to me.

It should be, eh? Good morning, Eric Pennington, Business Administrator to Councilman Ramos, to the President. There is a process, a couple of things. One, there is a process for how the properties are evaluated and assessed based on letters of intent that come in from prospective developers. But before I get to that, how do the people find out what properties are available? Several ways. One, there is a list on the EHD's website of available properties. Two, the tax assessor or tax collector can tell whether or not there are particular properties that are city owned and any city owned property, unless it has an intended use is available for sale. So people can do their own research. Three, those are properties that go to the city's land bank which is managed by invest newark and invest nor also list those uh those properties for sale with respect to the properties that are subject to an lr or something else the city does not do an appraisal on every property that has to be sold there are times particularly when they go through the auction that went there or for the high value properties, we did do appraisals and those appraisals are available to people who want to purchase the property and certainly to the council as well. But there's an expense associated with appraising every property and that's typically not an expense that we would engage in for every property, particularly those that are either just a land sale or a property that has been a subject of a fire or is dilapidated in some other respect. So the minimum price typically is the what is listed as the square footage for the particular property type that is going forward. So that's generally the process and happy to give more information as necessary.

But Mr. B, we had asked for a summary of the letters of intent that may have been received for a particular property a while ago right like you know i'm sure that if property x is city owned um it's been vacant for five years that they're at there's definitely more than just the person you're recommending who submitted a letter of intent so I would hope that the department has an evaluation process that can look at these five LOIs and say, all right, person X is going to be recommended for this property sale based on they're giving us more affordable units, they're offering more money, they have a demonstrated track record of renovating or building like that stuff isn't even forwarded to us now and we made that request a long time ago and i know the loi process is a process but it's almost a process that benefits people that know the system right like they know to call the tax collector they know um that how to navigate in order to find out what properties the city has available and i think even if you took 25 50 of the city owns stock and create a process that would help the public um identify what's available identify what steps they need to take what kind of financing do they have to have in place you know it just broadens the the opportunity uh to people that are not necessarily in this business

Certainly, Councilman. All of your points are valid. It is my understanding that the process contemplates much of what it is you talked about. And it was my understanding that you were provided with the process. If that didn't happen, I'll follow up on that and make sure you get the process.

I would just like to know what led you to the group that's before us. I'm sure they're all nice people. You look at their background, some of them have built stuff in Newark in the past. Some of them are giving us some affordability based on the agreements, which I think is a good thing. So it's just a matter of justification and tying us back to a process.

Thank you, Council President. We're spending a lot of time on this item and since the developers are not here to answer the questions that keep coming up, I'll make a motion to defer it.

As you get that motion, I'm not sure they're not here. I don't know. What I would ask is Brandy Daniel is here from EHD. If there's a question about a specific developer, whether they're here or not, Ms. Daniels should come forward and say that we have invited this developer. They didn't show up today, so you know that. I don't know if that's the case or not. I don't know every developer. But I would at least ask that she come up first and let you know that that's not the case.

Is she here? Oh, yes, she is. Oh, there she is.

but you still want to yeah yeah no no no no no no no no what i wanted to say is that because you know it's been deferred before and the answers to the questions still haven't been presented and so again we want to move this forward but we're spending a lot of time when we have an 81 page agenda for questions that still haven't gotten answered and more questions keep coming up with the more that we discuss certain things so Okay. I'm sorry.

Good morning, Council. Brandy Daniel, Legislative Coordinator for Economic and Housing Development. In regards to Councilwoman Bay and Councilwoman Jackson's question, please know that every time that a private sale makes the agenda, we do notify the developer to ask them to be here for the pre-council meeting to speak to the council for any questions that you may have. Most of the time they do say they're going to come. Unfortunately, we can't control them, but we do strongly suggest that they are here to answer any questions that the council has had. And that goes for any private sale that appears on the municipal council agenda.

That's right, Kelly. No, no. Deferred.

Yes, sir.

Okay. Are there a second for defer? Second. Second, Jackson for defer. Continue, Madam Clerk.

D is construction of a mixed-use building consisting of 32 residential apartments with 20% of the residential units designated as affordable housing in the Central Ward.

yes council president thank you um so again still have outstanding questions about um the price points for the different um apartments what the price point is for the um commercial space and what that looks like who gets first price of refusal um again have not seen or met with this developer and we're again um MAKING A MOTION TO DEFER BECAUSE WE STILL HAVE UNANSWERED QUESTIONS.

WE HAVE A SECOND. SECOND. SECOND, JACKSON. CONTINUE, MADAM CLARK.

E IS NEW CONSTRUCTION OF ONE NEW TWO-FAMILY HOME TO BE SOLD AT MARKET RATE IN THE SOUTH WARD. QUESTIONS?

YES, MR. CHAIR. I'LL MOVE THE ITEM. I'LL SPONSOR. MS. CHAIR, SECOND.

SECOND. SECOND, ROUND 3.

one quick just one quick question um in this uh ordinance um councilman have we addressed parking because that's going to be across the street from uh promised land church oh let me see this is the 100 in madison correct i'm parking

I addressed all the issues. As a matter of fact, it's going to be right across the street from the brand new Chamblee Park Square, which is a great area that has been vacant for over 20 years that is in need of development. And as we continue to clean up that area on Hunterdon and Madison Avenue is going to be a great location. And all of the folks in that area have been engaged and involved from the church all the way down. And so they're looking forward to this project and the work that is happening in that area. Thank you.

I WILL CONTINUE.

NEW CONSTRUCTION OF A FOUR STORY BUILDING CONSISTING OF 13 RESIDENTIAL UNITS OF WHICH ONE UNIT WILL BE RENTED AT AN AFFORDABLE RATE BELOW 80% OF AMI IN THE EAST WARD.

I'M GOING TO REQUEST TO DEFER THAT. SECOND. SECOND.

G is to use an extension to the current development project in the East Ward.

It was a pleasure. Continue. No questions? Just one quick question.

Is this NHA property? Because I Googled and was trying to get specifics as to where the 2032 jersey is. STREET WAS, AND IT APPEARS TO BE BETWEEN BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD AND TERRELL HOMES. AM I CORRECT, COUNCILMAN?

YEAH, IT'S A CITY-OWNED PROPERTY, AND IT'S WHERE THE HELIPORT USED TO BE THERE ON THE EAST SIDE ALONG THE WATERFRONT. OKAY. MR. PRESIDENT. YES, COUNCILMAN.

IS THIS SITE LIKE TOO SMALL TO DEVELOP? IS THAT WHY THE CITY IS SELLING IT FOR SUCH A SMALL PORTION OF THE ASSESSED VALUE?

Well, originally it was supposed to be included with another parcel and in the language, it wasn't included. And so the first parcel was sold and this is the second parcel that's next door to the first parcel that was originally sold a few months ago.

So if we could just have a point of clarification, cause I was trying to, so thank you for the clarification, uh, councilman silver. UM BUT I HAVE THE SAME CONCERN AS COUNCILMAN RAMOS THIS PROPERTY IS ASSESSED AT 1.7 MILLION AND WE ONLY SELLING IT FOR 173 HAVE A IT'S GOING TO BE USED NOW PART OF WHAT WE ALREADY SOLD I JUST THINK WE COULD DO A LITTLE BETTER WITH THAT SALE PRICE

I think EHD can clear this up because there's some, again, the first parcel, I think, and this was supposed to be together. And apparently in some of the language from what I've read, it wasn't included. And so now they're including it. So you can explain a little bit.

Good morning again, Brandy Daniel, legislative coordinator for economic and housing development. In regards to the questions, in regards to what Councilman Silva said, this was supposed to be part of the original sale to this developer. They purchased the land next to it. The reason why the sale price is way less than the assessed value, a portion of this particular lot needs to stay a park. A portion of it is on the park side of that particular property. And because of green acres, it cannot be developed on. So therefore, what we're assessing for is the piece of the property that we are allowed to build on. So that's why the sale price is way under the assessed value, because the assessed value includes the park portion of the property, but they cannot build on the park portion of the property. It must stay apart.

So are they going to develop The park?

They're going to develop the portion next that's on the side of the park, but the park will remain the same if they have to do like any upkeep or anything like that to keep the park clean and safe. And yes, ma'am, that will be done.

Thank you so much. Got it. Any questions?

H, is the First Amendment to adjust the sale amount due to environmental remediation for property in the South Ward?

Any questions? Council? Yes, I'll sponsor this. Sponsor is here. Second. Second. Second.

Councilman, Council President, I just had one question and I didn't see this. Can we get a copy of the remediation report? I didn't see it in the backup documentation.

I started by Councilman Crump. Madam Clerk. Yes.

I is new construction of the two, two family homes. Both homes will be rented at an affordable rate of between 60 to 80% of AMI in the South ward.

Yeah. I'm going to defer this item for now to defer.

Yes.

Is there a second to second round?

Jay is construction of a new three family residential dwelling to be sold at market rate in the South board.

Mr. Chair, I'm going to defer this item.

Mr. Chair, second. Second. Second, Kelly. Councilman Kelly. I'll continue.

K is construction of a three-family residential dwelling that will be sold at market rate in the South Ward. Mr.

Chair, I'm going to defer this item.

Defer. I'll second. Second. Second by Crum. I'll continue.

L is construction of a five-story mixed-use building in the South Ward. It was a pleasure.

I'll sponsor this item.

Sponsor, is there a second? Second. Second by Crump. Continue.

M is construction of a six-story mixed-use development with 28 residential units, 20% of the residential units reserved as affordable housing in the South Ward. It is a pleasure.

Chair, I'll sponsor the cycle. So sponsor, is there a second? Second. Second, round three. Okay.

And is new construction of two family homes to be sold at an affordable rate of between 50% to 70% AMI in the Central and South Ward?

Ms. Chair, I spoke with my colleague and I want to defer this item. I second. Move on to second.

Virginia?

O is new construction of a 16-unit building, five units to be rented at 30% AMI and 11 units to be rented at 60% AMI in the Central Ward.

Councilwoman Kelly. Council President. I'm sorry.

Council President, I make a motion to defer.

I second.

I speak for that.

Okay.

As noted, continue.

P is new construction of two two-family homes to be rented at an affordable rate of 60% AMI in the West Ward.

I want to sponsor this. Is there a second? Second, Jackson. Continue.

Q is construction of a new two-family home. One unit will be rented to households earning up to 80% of the area medium income, and the other unit will be rented at market rate in the West Ward.

I WANT TO DEFER THIS ITEM.

SECOND.

NEW CONSTRUCTION OF THREE TWO-FAMILY HOMES TO BE RENTED TO SECTION 8 HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER PARTICIPANTS IN THE WEST WARD.

I'M GOING TO DEFER THIS. SECOND. SECOND JACKSON.

S is new construction of a mixed-use building, two to three units for rent at market rate, and newly constructed two-family home to be sold at market rate, all in the West Ward.

What's your first? I'll move. Is there a second? Second. Second, Jackson. Continue.

T is to execute an affordable housing agreement for construction of two mixed-use buildings in the South Ward.

Absolutely. Advisor? Any questions? Can none continue? U is to execute...

U is execution of an agreement for the sale and redevelopment of land between the city and the New Jersey Performing Arts Center Corporation in the Central Ward.

Any questions? Councilwoman Bay? No? No questions. Continue.

V is a bid contract for improvements to local roadways to increase pedestrian safety.

QUESTIONS.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE ASSESSMENT REDUCTION AT 658 AND 660 SANFORD AVENUE AND WHETHER IT REFLECTS THE PROPERTY SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE BROAD EVALUATION ISSUE?

Good morning, Frank. Let's hear the tax. Yes, sir. Could you repeat the question?

I'm sorry, let me put your microphone up, sir. Thank you.

Yes, Frank. Let's hear the tax. Yes, sir.

Yes, sir. One second. Let me get my question that I have. And by the line, I'm sorry, I was asking the wrong question for the wrong item. What exact Westward intersections and corridors are included in this contract? That's right. That's the right one of them all.

I don't think it's a tax assessor, though.

I'm sorry. I didn't want to tax assess. I'm on my apology. That's the question that I wanted to ask. Not you. I'm sorry.

I mixed up my questions. I'm sorry.

What exact Westward intersections and corridors are included in this contract? It's just a question I'm having. I'm sorry. Tax assessor, you can sit down.

GOOD MORNING, ERIC PENNINGTON, BUSINESS ADMINISTRATOR. THIS PEDESTRIANIZATION PROJECT, MY UNDERSTANDING IS IT'S IN THE CENTRAL WARD, THIS PARTICULAR CONTRACT.

IT'S NOT FOR THE REST OF THE WARD. OKAY. MY APOLOGIES. I THOUGHT IT WAS AN OPEN QUESTION.

ANY QUESTION? I JUST HAVE A QUESTION WITH REGARDS TO THIS MATTER. I GUESS FOR MY OWN EDIFICATION, WHY IS THIS IN EHD AS OPPOSED TO ENGINEERING OR ANOTHER DEPARTMENT? Because normally we don't see something like this in EHD.

Sure. Councilman, my understanding is that EHD and engineering are working together on this project and that EHD has just been the sponsor of this particular legislation to move the pedestrianization forward. It's been a fairly arduous process, but EHD has been the one shepherding it through from the beginning.

And so this is a combination of EHD and the engineering department working together. Thank you.

You're welcome. Any other questions? Can I continue?

Seminar 4A is approving the official statement and disclosure agreement for the sale of bond anticipation notes and special emergency notes.

Council Kelly. Yeah, now I guess this is the one I have for the tax assessor. Right. Right. So I just wanted to know from the tax assessor is Eastern. Oh yeah. The tax assessor there's a, there's a, uh, a reduction at six 58, six 60 Sanford Avenue. I just wanted, um, no, whether it reflects like a, uh, a property specific circumstance.

Frank Colasio, Tax Assessor. Could you repeat that question?

So when I looked into the notes, it said that there's a reduction at 658-660.

What legislation are you referring to, Councilman? I'm sorry. The $32 million?

Yeah.

You talked about in finance, you talked about the sale of notes, the issues of notes. That's a finance issue. I could have the assistant director of finance.

I must have mixed something up. But there is a, when I looked into the notes, it said something about the properties and it says 658-660 Sanford Avenue, which rung my alarm because it's the West Ward.

Fair enough. I'll have the assistant director of finance. address what this is and get into any details that you can. Thank you.

Good morning, Council President, Council Members, Benjamin Guzman, Acting Finance Director. Director Kellogg, to your question, I believe the question that you're asking regarding assessed value, that's for 7R4D, because we do have a stipulation of tax appeals. And I do see that address. Oh, okay.

I'm speeding on my notes. My apologies.

We can definitely address that later for you. And are there any questions specifically regarding 7R4A? No. No.

Yes, Councilwoman Jackson. Okay, so what are we doing? Just a little overview.

Currently, the city of Newark has bond anticipation notes that are maturing on September 23rd. This resolution is to authorize a preliminary official statement and a final official statement, so that way we could sell new notes to pay off the old notes. So in essence, it's a refinancing of the old notes that are coming due and extending that for another year. Obviously, any principal pay down that are required, we will pay down that principal. Any interest that would have to be paid, we'll do, and it'll be... THE REMAINING BALANCE WILL BE FORWARDED FOR ANOTHER YEAR. OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. GUZMAN.

B IS AN APPLICATION TO NEW JERSEY URBAN ENTERPRISE ZONE AUTHORITY.

ANY QUESTIONS? SEEING NONE, CONTINUE.

C IS CONFIRMING BOND SALE.

QUESTIONS? NONE? CONTINUE. I'M SORRY.

the redevelopment of 930 McCarter Highway. We're refinancing the bond to do this project. Or if you could just kind of clarify, okay, Mr. Adams.

Sure, again, Benjamin Guzman, Acting Finance Director. This is for the sale of redevelopment bonds. My understanding is that this project is, at a point where the redevelopment has to be sold as part of the agreement with that developer. If there are any more specific questions that you need to be asked about this, probably best to address those to the Department of Economic and Housing Development as they work with this developer. My understanding is the project is at a position where the redevelopment notes can be sold and that'll be part of the agreement with that developer.

Okay.

Yes, it's not a refinancing. This is an agreement with them where the developer will be paying the debt service on these redevelopment bonds over the life of the bonds once they're sold. Okay. Thank you. Thank you.

Continue.

D and E are stipulations of settlement for tax appeals.

Any questions? Yeah, continue. Yeah.

No, no, excuse me.

No, that was my question finally. My apologies. You know, I Usually, when we get these tax adjustments, I breeze through them. Just driving by this property, it stood out for some reason for me. But it's 658-660. And when I looked into the background information, if I'm not mistaken, I believe it was like $800,000. It's like 8,000. I just want the big drop. I just wanted to know what, what was that reduction for? You know, usually there's not that big of a drop. So I just kind of wanted to get an explanation of what that drop was for. And taxes says, I know we usually don't ask these questions, but. I just wanted to know this go around moving forward.

Yeah, let's see our tax assessor. These went through tax score and there was a change in the ratio from year to year. And that's why the reduction was made.

Okay, that big of a reduction for- It could be that big of a reduction, yes.

Okay.

The ratio, I'm sorry. No, no, go ahead. The ratio change is conducted by who? The city, the county, the state? How does that...

RATIO IS DONE BY THE SALES RATIO.

OKAY.

AND THE ASSESSMENTS. WE TAKE ALL THE ASSESSMENTS, DIVIDE THEM INTO THE BUDGET, COME UP WITH A RATIO. OKAY. SO EACH YEAR IT'S GOING TO BE DIFFERENT.

AND IT'S DIFFERENT PER PROPERTY OR DIFFERENT PER CALCULATION?

Good morning, Eric Pennington again. The ratio comes about as a result of the assessed values of our properties relative to the actual sale price. Those properties have to be calculated and there's a divisible number that comes up to say Let me put it like this. If a property is worth $1 million and it sells for $1 million, we're at 100% ratio. If the property is assessed at $500,000 and it sells for $1 million, we're at about a 50% ratio. And that increases the amount of money that we have to pay to the county because we aren't taking in as much taxes as the value of the property actually is, if that makes some sense. So it's a combination of things. There's a county component and there's a state component with respect to what happens with the ratio and how it's calculated.

After the appraisal.

Well, it's not really an appraisal. It's more of an assessed value and an actual sale price.

OK.

Thank you.

Thank you, Bia. And Eric, this is probably for you. So when we get these settlements, most of the time, these individuals have filed a tax appeal. They've gone through the process. County Board of Taxation usually hears those appeals, and then they direct the municipality to make an adjustment based on the review of their case, correct?

Well, the vast majority of these are settlements. So they file an appeal. It goes up to the County Tax Board adjustment. Before it's resolved. There's some discussion, but before it's ultimately resolved, the city and the council for these property owners reaches a settlement and that's what you get. If it actually goes to a, let's say it goes to the county tax board, they're making a decision and we don't agree with it, either we or the other party can appeal to the state and then it's a judgment, it's an order that comes through. So it wouldn't be part of a settlement, it would be a judgment order that would come through.

So these are properties that have gone through some variation of that process that you just explained.

And we've come to an agreement. We've come to an agreement, not a court order.

Thank you.

Mr. P, just one more, please. Give me your mind. Yes, ma'am. So I'm just going to ask you, is there a reason why regular homeowners, Donna Jackson, Lawrence Crump, Patrick Council, Mike Silva do not win and or get favor or a decision when regular folks file? Because I'm just a little miffed at why a regular homeowner is never on his tax appeal list versus an LLC. Is there something we're doing wrong? Should I be an LLC? Should Mr. Trump, Ms. Bay, Mr. Counsel, Mr. Silver and I be an LLC and get paid? And I'm really... just to keep it, but it seems that that is always the case. I know many homeowners have done tax appeals and it appears that they never, almost never, almost, let me just say never, almost never win their appeal. Is there a reason for that?

So short answer, again, Eric Pennington, business administrator. I'm not sure that you have the full compliment of appeals that come from individual homeowners and what the result is, but it is technical. And it requires that when there's an appeal that the appellant, the person's appealing their taxes, they have to provide comps. And the comps that they have to provide, there's a technical component to that. It has to be within a certain area. It has to be a property of a similar type. If a homeowner, and I'm not sure if this is the case or not, If the homeowner does it on their own and they don't comply with the requirements, then it won't even be heard. It won't even be accepted or be dismissed. So that may be what you're talking about. But if a homeowner, an individual residential homeowner such as myself, files an appeal and we comply, we have a very good chance of winning just like anybody else. Just have to be in compliance with what the rules are for the tax appeal. And every homeowner can appeal their taxes once a year, every year that they want to. They just have to be, they also have to have, the taxes have to be paid current in order to file a tax appeal. So that's another one of the issues that exists sometimes. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you.

seven are five a and b are contracts with grant recipients for homeless residents a is new jersey aids alliance and b is integrity incorporated any questions and then counseling no i wanted to uh sponsor andy is there a second second second by kelly and just one question i have for both entities

Can they show us how many folks they have serviced and moved into sustainable housing?

My clerk has noted by Councilman Jackson. Yes. Continue.

C through G are contracts with sub-recipients for HIV crisis response.

Any questions? Any questions for the sponsor C? She wants sponsors. Councilwoman Bay, sponsor C. Okay. Second by round two. Can I continue?

Okay. Okay. D is circle of life. E is distinctly guided. F is inspired by. And G is hope, love, and kindness.

Any questions? I JUST WANT TO SPONSOR F. I WANT TO SECOND THAT. SECOND.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT.

I WANT TO SPONSOR G. A BY COUNCIL. SECOND. ELLIE. OKAY.

FULLY NOTED. H WILL BE RETURNED TO THE ADMINISTRATION. WHICH ONE? H IS GOING TO BE RETURNED TO THE ADMINISTRATION. I through O are amending, applying, or accepting grant funds. I is for the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, or the WIC program. J is the Department of Community Affairs. K is for the Immunization Grant. L is for the public health emergency preparedness. M is for childhood lead exposure prevention. N is for dental care. O is for code red services.

Any questions? Two questions. First question on, well, first statement on COVID. Eye for eye, breastfeeding. I know we are doing a fantastic job over there. I know this is a grant, but we need to find another way to get a little more dollars in there so we can help educate more mothers, new mothers on breastfeeding and the benefits of that. 5M, I would like to have the status of the program. I would like to know how many families are using this service. How many led safe houses do we have? How many families in those led safe houses are led families? How many families do we have on the waiting list to have their homes led inspected and abated and the status of those abatements that we have done? Five O, Code Red funds. I would like to have an explanation of how we use those funds. I would like to have a list of all of the Code Red sites. And I would like to know how many families and or individuals use those Code Red sites. And that completes my questions.

Madam clerk, those questions to be forward and get some response from the councilwoman and also all members of council. Yeah.

Yeah. I want to I want to sponsor. I. Oh. In. In.

Oh, is there a second? Second, second, second by round. OK, continue, man.

7R6A through D are settlement agreements for executive session. Okay. 7R7A is professional service contract to provide forensic accounting.

Any questions? Can none continue?

7R8A is a ceremonial street designation for Bishop Frank Garris sponsored by Councilwoman Scott Roundtree.

I want to move to have that deferred. I don't even know how I made it to the agenda because I haven't concluded with Councilman Council what the date is going to be or the location.

Okay. Deferred. Second. Second by Kelly. On the menu.

Yeah. B is a whole harmless agreement for the Wellness Fest sponsored by Councilman Ramos.

Mr. President, I'm going to return this item because the event never happens. Okay. Return to administration. Return.

Duly noted. C is a whole harmless for the senior luncheon sponsored by Council President Quintana.

Second. Thank you.

D, we did in earlier session. E, is a ceremonial street designation for Mr. Hagan, sponsored by Council President Quintana.

I spoke to my staff.

They didn't speak to me, Mr. President. But I want to second this because Coachman's has been a stellar organization. area on that corner and the work that Mr. Coachman has done in his family to continue to uplift, although we may look at it in a different way, but to uplift the residents in that area, to be there for the neighbors, children, and all of the things that they have done in that community, not just to uplift social upliftment, but to either be a breathing place for politicians all along, so I want to second this as well.

Thank you. Talking about coachments, that's where I got my start, politically, in the city. People said, well, you're from the North Ward. I believe that five wards, when you were elected, you have to go to five wards. Maurice and I have hit it off. We were very close. even though he travels and is on wheelchair, but that corner has always been for people who work at the post office, everyone who has gone there, the back-to-school programs they've ever done, things that they do, the camps, sponsoring kids to go to camp. So I thank you, and I know my staff is communicating with your staff, and I think moving forward on the dedications and all that, we should all... So I talked to our ward councilman and I, you know, because again, it takes us together to make sure that we are together on this, on anything we do. Thank you.

F is a street dedication for Ms. Jones sponsored by Councilman Kelly.

We have a second. Second. Thank you.

G is waiving special event fees for the Vassar Avenue Block Party, sponsored by Councilman Council.

I'll second. Second by Chrome. Continue.

H is waiving special event fees for the Tracy Avenue Block Association, sponsored by Councilman Council. I'll second all of the ones.

Make it easy.

Thank you. All right.

So I is sponsored by Councilman Crump. Second by Councilman Crump. And J is sponsored by Councilman Crump. You can second K. Wait a minute. I, J, and K. Right. Okay.

But he's going to second his own?

No. K, K. I'll start to get K. Yeah, one of us can second K, from G through K. G through K. Thank you.

All right.

G through J, yeah.

He can't second his own. THANK YOU, RAY.

IT'S THE WEEKEND. KAY.

KAY IS WAVING SPECIAL EVENT FEES FOR THE SOUTH 13th STREET BLOCK PARTY THAT'S SPONSORED BY COUNCILMAN CRUMP.

SECOND. KELLY.

SECOND BY COUNCILMAN KELLY. L is waiving special event fees for the district 50 summer block party sponsored by Councilman Ramos. Second. Thank you. M is waiving special event fees for the e-waste recycling event sponsored by Councilman Ramos. Second. Thank you. N is resolution supporting polluters pay to make New Jersey more affordable act. Sponsored by Councilman Scott Roundtree.

I'll second. All the way.

O is expressing support for the New Jersey statewide black agenda sponsored by Councilwoman Scott Roundtree.

I'll second. Oh my God, it's all seconded. The whole council. The whole council.

A mold. Municipal Council Choir.

Got it. P is a resolution of support for a temporary moratorium of 12 months on the development of data centers throughout the city. Sponsored by Councilman Ramos. Second it.

Second by Jackson.

Second.

Thank you.

Q is recognizing and commending resolutions. And R is expressing profound sorrow and regret. 7R9A is appointment of special police officers.

Any questions? None? Continue.

B is an application acceptance of the UIC grant. Questions?

Councilman? Jackson, I don't know, Councilman Crump and then Jackson.

Council President, I'm going back to 7R9A. Just a question of regarding whether there's any discussion of having a new special police class anytime soon.

Seven up.

morning council president council members uh james george the captain with the police department on behalf of the department of public safety uh there's been discussion uh exploration right now the way our police academy set up uh we're mandated by the state ptc to have two classes per year we've been filling those classes with normal police officers uh those things have been happening in order to have a special police class it had to be outside those hours to accommodate the instructors and staff but it is something that we're looking at to see if there's a need uh right now as with this appointment that this person was a previously a police officer he moved on to another department of public safety employment and then we can retain him as a special police officer because he already has that training and experience but uh if we wanted to host the class we'd either have to do that outside the normal hours like at night time with staff to accommodate those things or find additional staff to teach those people um during regular hours and find some space for them in the training facility.

Thank you. I would hope that at some point sooner than later, there was a special class. And Mr. President, come through.

Yeah, I agree wholeheartedly with Councilman Crump. It's been probably about 16 years since we commissioned a class of Newark special police officers. A lot of the specials that we've been commissioning since then are retired police officers. And I would imagine that in those 16 years, some of those individuals who were originally commissioned have moved on and retire. We did have individuals who were not police officers who have served the city well as special police officers, even though some folks don't like the idea. But we do get some hours back as far as volunteer hours from the specials that helps the city defray some of the costs with securing festivals, parades. And I think it's a good thing for the city to have specials. There's a lot of details, whether they're licensed bars and taverns, the Board of Education hires specials, the Newark Housing Authority hires specials. And I don't know if we have enough candidates like Councilman Crump mentioned to fill all those mandatory posts. And at the same time, like I said before, the city could use those hours in order to help defray some of the costs that you guys are spending a lot of overtime with parades, festivals and special events.

SHE WANTS TO BE IN THE ACADEMY. SHE COULD BE AN INSTRUCTOR.

SEMINAR 11A IS A RIGHT OF ACCESS AND CONSTRUCTION AGREEMENT TO CONSTRUCT PARK IMPROVEMENTS. YES.

COUNCILMAN JACK, YOU HAD A QUESTION. I HAD A QUESTION ON B. I DIDN'T KNOW WHERE YOU WENT. OKAY. If we could just have a presentation from the police department at some point in regards to the Urban Area Security Initiative, as much as they can give us so that we know what areas they're talking about, what wards would be getting extra help and where. AND IF WE HAVE SOME INPUT IN WHERE THOSE THINGS ARE GOING TO BE, IF WE CAN DO THAT, CAPTAIN GEORGE.

AS NOTED BY THE COUNSELOR, IF WE COULD FORWARD THAT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY. YES, SIR. THANK YOU.

THIS IS 11A. I JUST WANT TO PUT IT ON THE RECORD THAT I'VE SPOKEN TO INVEST IN WORK, I'VE SPOKEN TO A FEW PEOPLE IN RECREATION. If we're going to fix that park, some changes are going to have to be made. I'm aware of that park from the days I worked with Newark Police, and if we're going to invest this kind of money, I just want to make sure that we're investing it wisely and it doesn't get destroyed right away. The feedback I'm getting from families who live in that area is that park, just like every other park, was built for the residents who live in that area. And unfortunately, they've been unable to use the park due to certain circumstances. And when I mean certain circumstances are drug use, where there's needles on the floor, people defecating and urinating in the park, and they're unable to use it for its intended purpose. So I want to be part of Any conversation on where the almost million dollars is going to be utilized? Because I think we have to take some precautions to prevent those things from happening so our families can enjoy the use of that park. So just want to put on the record that any meetings, any conversations taking place regarding the almost million dollars going to be spent, that I want to be part of that conversation.

As noted by Councilman Sousa, to be part also. BE INFORMED ON ALL THE DEVELOPMENTS TAKING PLACE. THANK YOU.

CONTINUE. 7R12A IS A CHANGE ORDER FOR THE REHABILITATION OF THE PAQUANTIC AQUEDUX.

ANY QUESTIONS, GUEST COUNSELOR? QUESTIONS?

YES. I KNOW. I KNOW. YOU KNOW I LOVE YOUR CAREER. I MEAN, MR. ADDITIONAL DIRECTOR. Okay, so I just had my money hat on, so not personal at all. This is the third change order since 2024. And I know when we're doing things, stuff comes up in the lines, some stuff comes up, we got storms going on. So my first question is how close to being complete are we? Have we met all the DEP benchmarks? Um, and if in these change orders are any of these additional funds because of something that the contractor possibly did not blaming anybody. I'm just asking if the contractor may have. Should have put two feet in. they only put one um you know if they didn't bear up the walls correctly in in that area i mean i know we've been doing a lot with the aqueduct and i know we got a lot going on these storms are serious i get it but this project is probably not an overnight project it's an extensive one um but i just want to make sure that we are getting our bang for the buck for 15 million dollars

um and that the work is being done properly that's just my only concern and is there a completion date on this project thank you council president council councilwoman jackson council members this project is a state-funded project to rehabilitate 11 miles of our 165 year old aquatic aqueduct lines one and two this is the first 11 miles the work on pipe one is is completed uh this change order was yes was approved by the state and the department of water and soil utility this is not of a contracted negligence this is making sure that we rehabilitate these 170 old pipes the proper way and sometime when you're doing excavation you may see that new technology has changed we need to add something that we didn't encounter when we did the design um this this project is a year away from Next month we'll be starting on line number two, 11 miles of line number two. It's not the whole additional, I mean it's not the whole 30 miles, it's the top 11 miles of each pipe.

Okay, so just a quick question. So I remember back when we were talking about the water main repairs and the water main replacement. So at some point, because we're showing up the top part of this thing, the middle part is going to need to be done as well. Right, sir?

Yes.

Okay. So I'll get my pen ready for 45 million, 65. I got you.

And again, you know, I just want to reaffirm, I always say this, you know, over almost 14 years ago, they said we needed 1.2 billion in water and wastewater infrastructure improvements. Like that price has increased since then, but not increased because we still don't see the projects needed. Just the value of construction has ballooned in the state of New Jersey. Right. But this is much needed stuff to make sure we're putting the adequate supply of water coming down to our residents and our bulk water customers and ensure that as we develop in the city growth that we grow with it, that we can meet that demand.

OK. All right. Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you, George.

He is a professional service contract for rehabilitation of the aquatic aqueducts.

Questions.

C is also a professional service contract for the aquatic aqueduct.

Any questions? None? Continue.

D is an exception to public bidding for deer damage management at the Cedar Grove reservoir.

Any questions? Continue.

E is an exception to public bidding for the flotation system at the aquatic water treatment plant.

Any questions? None? Continue.

COMMUNICATIONS. A WAS DISCUSSED EARLIER. B THROUGH E ARE ALL REAPPOINTMENTS. F IS AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION OF THE FINANCIAL AGREEMENT FOR AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT CONSISTING OF 82 AFFORDABLE RESIDENTIAL RENTAL UNITS.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT. Sorry. Yeah, Council President Eric Pennington, Business Administrator. With respect to some of these ordinances that are on communications, we don't have an objection with them going forward, but we're going to make some technical adjustments, amendments after they move forward that are non-substantive, and we will get that to the Council before the next, after it moves forward, before it's voted on its first reading.

There's no other, thank you.

G is an ordinance authorizing the assignment and assumption for an affordable housing project consisting of 38 affordable residential rental units. H is an ordinance for the approval of the assignment and assumption agreement for the purpose of transferring all obligations of the city as a tenant to GPOP Doremus Avenue. I IS AN ORDINANCE AMENDING HISTORIC SITE APPLICATION FEES BY REPLACING THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES REGISTRATION FORM REQUIREMENTS WITH THE CITY SPECIFIC APPLICATION FORM. J IS AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ZONING AND LAND USE REGULATIONS TO ESTABLISH A ONE-YEAR MORATORIUM ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF DATA CENTERS IN THE CITY.

IS THERE A SECOND?

SECOND. SECOND.

SECOND. SECOND. SECOND. SECOND. SECOND. SECOND. SECOND. SECOND. SECOND. SECOND. SECOND. SECOND. SECOND. SECOND. SECOND. SECOND. SECOND. SECOND. SECOND. SECOND. SECOND. SECOND. SECOND. SECOND. SECOND. SECOND. SECOND.

SECOND. SECOND. SECOND. SECOND. SECOND. SECOND. SECOND. SECOND. SECOND. SECOND. SECOND. SECOND. SECOND. SECOND. SECOND.

SECOND. SECOND. SECOND. SECOND. SECOND. SECOND. SECOND. SECOND. SECOND. SECOND. SEC

The ordinance doesn't read as a referral to the planning board. It basically enacts a one-year moratorium. If you wanted to do that, you would have to amend it.

If it's going to be a zoning change, it's a request to change the zoning law, I would imagine it would have to be referred, but I'm just raising the issue.

Madam Clerk. Duly noted. No, it's noted. Yes.

Councilman, Council, if you want to amend on the floor, it does have a, okay.

Duly noted. K is an ordinance adopting the third amendment to the West Ward Model Neighborhood Initiative Redevelopment Plan.

Okay, Councilman.

Thank you, Council President. Two quick questions. Can I get a list of identifying the C1s and C2s property that are affected by the commercial corridors that could become residential? Also, another question. Can a commercial storefront, let's say on South Orange Avenue or other major corridors, be replaced by residential twos, threes, and four-family buildings under this amendment? That's a question I have.

Mr. Spade, will you address it? Oh, then somebody will. Okay.

Eric Benedict, business administrator. I would just ask that the clerk send us that request and we'll respond in writing with it. That'd be fine.

Those are the two questions.

Can we just include one more? Can a commercial property that has residential on top of it become a residential?

changes yeah i mean that's the changes yeah that's sort of the question i just want to know can the commercial storefront let's say on south orange avenue and the other corridors in the west ward be replaced by the residential twos threes and four families under this amendment can it be replaced you know along these these commercial corridors

And I ask that just for a point of clarification, because we had a state inspector hurt two weeks ago on South Orange Avenue. And to my understanding, they were attempting to change that commercial space into a residential unit.

And my point of clarification for asking that question is just to make sure that we are protecting our ground floor commercial along our major corridors. Just want to make sure, I don't mind the residential. I just want to make sure that we protect our ground floor residential, excuse me, commercial along our corridors.

All right.

L is an ordinance authorizing negotiated reductions in the annual service charge for the redevelopment projects, providing affordable ground floor retail space in addition to enhance affordable housing.

Yeah, yeah.

I got a bunch of questions. You know, a lot of these questions come from the experiences I've been having. That's making me ask these questions, especially with small businesses. You know, I'm always looking to get businesses happening to come to the West. So I guess my question for this is, how do we make sure Newark neighborhood-based small businesses actually have access to these spaces?

There's no one?

M IS AN ORDINANCE PROHIBITING THE IMPOSITION OF CERTAIN BROKERAGE COSTS UPON RESIDENTIAL TENANTS IN THE CITY.

A MILLION QUESTIONS I'M ONLY GOING TO ASK TWO. I THINK THIS IS AN EXCELLENT START. I would like to see what that looks like written out because residents have been, tenants have been skim scammed and every which way, not only from the broker fee, but from the application fees that they're being forced to pay. Sometimes even in the same building, you know, I'm applying for the two bedroom and, He told me the rent was 2000. And then when I get in there, it's 2,500. So now I'm gonna go to the first floor and apply for the one bedroom and you make me do the application fee again. So I think that, um, I need to work on this being expanded, but I would like to have a copy of what we currently have for review because this is much needed. Um, as well as some other things, but this is much, much needed because at one time the brokers couldn't charge a month's rent, two months rent as their fee. And then somebody in the state of New Jersey lost their mind. Excuse me, Mr. P, I'm sorry. But somebody did and allowed these folks to now charge thousands and thousands of dollars. And at one point, the state of New Jersey, through rental assistance, was paying it. And I think it's criminal that realtors, brokers are making six, seven, four, $5,000 off of each tenant who makes it into the unit, but then has to come up with this broker fee and the security deposit at the same time. And like I said, the state of New Jersey and their infinite misunderstanding. I was saying a few things. Amen. decided to pay those for some people. So we had incidents where the owners, in collaboration with the realtor, was getting a $10,000 hit for security deposit and broker fee, finding out that they were one in the same. And so this is much needed, but I would just like to see it just in case there's like four more things that I'd like to put in online too, as well as my council colleagues. So if it's 15 lines, we'd probably like to make it 35, Mr. P, just to give you a little more work. And Mr., your side partner over there. But I think it's a good start. We definitely need to do that. That has also prohibited a lot of people from getting a unit because they don't have the $10,000. They don't have the $8,000. They, you know, scraping to get the security deposit and then to be hit with this broker fee, particularly when I found a unit that's good enough. because you already go through a lot to get the unit and get one that's livable. So we definitely have to protect the tenants. So thank you for putting this together, but let's just make sure we meeting the little edges sometime that we miss.

Council President Eric Pennington, to the comment from Councilwoman Jackson, the administration under the direction of Mayor Baraka believes that there's predatory pricing, predatory approaches to leasing apartments to people who are already overburdened with the cost of homeownership. already have difficulty finding adequate housing in the city of Newark and have the additional burden of having a broker who may not even be the one who finds the property for them, assess some fee because they happen to look in the paper or look on Invest Newark or look on EHD's website and then charge this fee. is it's unconscionable. And Mayor Barack is not going to stand back and let that happen. That's what the purpose of this legislation is. If it can be strengthened, we're happy to do so because the residents of the city of Newark do not deserve to be taken advantage of by these predatory brokers. And we're not going to let that happen.

yeah so um piggyback off of councilwoman jackson i i guess i was going to ask it says certain brokerage costs so do we have can we get that i mean i'm be honest just really for not just for the council, but for the public as whole as to what those costs are that are going to be prohibited.

Absolutely.

We can have our law department can provide a complete list of what that would include as this moves forward.

And just she sparked I mean, she's right about that. Is there a specific enforcement mechanism that that is in place for these landlords not to be able to pass this brokerage or when they do pass the brokerage fee on to a tenant.

That's what this legislation is. Heretofore, that has not been. We're putting in place now. Understood. To hold them accountable for gouging and taking advantage of the residents. Madam Clerk, continue.

9A was- If that is this legislation, I would love to sponsor this legislation.

Second. Second by round. Yes. Okay. Duly noted. 9A was discussed previously. 10 miscellaneous. 10A is approval of the raffle license. 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 members?

Yes, they're appearing.

Oh, no.

State your name for the record, please.

Yes. Dr. Leah Owens, I serve as the Ports and Policy Analyst for the Southward Environmental Alliance, 1067 Bergen Street. And before I get into my comments, this is the first time I'm speaking in front of this council. So certainly want to extend congratulations to you, Council President Quintana, for your peers selecting you to serve in that position, as well as Councilwoman Jackson. It is always encouraging to see your vote mean something. So thank you. Thank you. So I think all of you are familiar with Southward Environmental Alliance or SWEA. We put environmental justice at the center of all the work that we do. And just to be sure what that means is while I would always encourage folks to hug a tree, there's power in that. If you know, you know. But in addition to paying attention to the land and how it's used, we also pay attention to the results of environmental racism and how historically disenfranchised populations face an overburden or overburden by pollution. So we don't just look at one development at a time. We look at the cumulative impacts of each one on top of each other. So the issue that I want to talk about here today is data centers. We are so appreciative of Councilman Council for hearing the concerns of his constituents, myself included as a South Ward resident, and taking action by sponsoring an ordinance 261273 that calls for a moratorium on data centers being approved in the city until we can complete a comprehensive analysis of the impact that they will have. While all the concerns that are outlined in that moratorium are very important, the power grid, water consumption, we also need to take into account the impact on public health. Data centers, particularly hyperscale data centers, is a concern of South Ward residents, also have an impact when it comes to sound because these entities are running 24-7. And those sounds that we don't necessarily perceive with our own ears are still having an impact on our bodies. So if we really take a look at the zoning map in the city, you will see little pockets around the city where data centers can actually be zoned. But when you get down to the port adjacent districts, which include the communities of the South Ward as well as in the East Ward, but particularly the South Ward, that's where you really see the potential for these hyperscale data centers. Again, there's only pockets in the north, little pockets in the west. We already have a telecommunications data center in the central ward at 165 Palsy, but it's really the south ward and particularly the former Anheuser-Busch site that we're concerned about. So we want to again thank Councilman Council. We also want to thank this Council for really thinking about this moratorium and getting it passed so we can study the issue and amend the ordinance. Thank you.

Hi, good afternoon. My name is Alejandra Torres. I serve as the Assistant Director of Advocacy and Organizing with the Ironbound Community Corporation. It's my pleasure to be before you all to speak today. And firstly, I also do want to thank a lot of the council members for attending the Polluters Pay Act. And thank you Councilwoman Scott Roundtree for introducing the resolution to support polluters pay. Along those lines, your leadership and support definitely demonstrates the Council's value of environmental justice here in Newark. And I also want to thank Councilman Council for introducing and sponsoring an ordinance that's really robust. in confronting data centers. ICC, very similarly to SWIA, we are dedicated to advancing environmental justice holistically, not just for the Ironbound and the Eastward, but for the Southward as well, and all of Newark, recognizing that there are certain wards that are at higher risk to be hosts to polluting facilities such as data centers. And so with that, I want to emphasize a couple of things. Newark has been a champion of environmental justice. And I think along those lines in supporting the environmental justice and cumulative impacts ordinance and Mayor Baraka's policies, it's really important to take time to think really focus on studying the impact of data centers. So as my colleague, Dr. Owen said, it's not just increases in utility costs, but really thinking about the environmental justice impacts. Studies show that air pollution, water usage, electricity, noise pollution can lead to almost by 2030, about 600,000 more cases in asthma because of data centers. There's also studies that indicate that like hundreds and thousands of gallons of water usage goes to cooling data centers. And so with that, While we really applaud the Council in proposing a resolution and an ordinance, it's really important, and the ordinance specifically, thank you again, Councilman, Council, does compel the City Council, the Planning Board, and the Newark Environmental Commission to come together to do that comprehensive, robust analysis of all the environmental justice impacts that AI data centers, in particular, hyperscale data centers, would impose on that community. And then from there doing the robust analysis to ensure that the Title 41 gets amended so that it more comprehensively takes into account data centers because as it stands now, it's not as strong. And the last thing I'd like to ask the council is would the resolution and the ordinance have any conflict? Thank you very much.

Next speaker.

I'm gonna keep on reiterating the situation. The BA, the finance director, your jobs are to create ways to generate revenue, collect revenue, and the BA is supposed to have our budget in in a timely manner. Now, I don't know why we going into another administration, another four more years with these two individuals in office. With the state of affairs that we are in today, they have failed us, failed us, failed us and failed us. No other way to say it. Failed us. And here we are at a point where now we talking about The battle between the two, the city mayor and Joey D. I mean, it all falls back into their lap along with the council members that was sitting here allowing this stuff. Failure, no other way to describe you. And the reason why I'm gonna continue to be upset is because it's on our backs, the homeowners, the taxpayers, which we are renters, we pay taxes to. Failure, no other way to describe you. And you should be resigning. You should be removed from office. You shouldn't even be in another term in this city. The youth, you are headed for self-destruction. You are headed for jail, prison, or a tragic death. In the 24 hours of violence, it must be banned. It is doing more harm to our youth than good. More harm. It either need to be banned or relocated to a place of containment, like a public school or a rec center. Help wanted, save our youth. It's this sitting downtown watching it. It's this travesty. The meetings, we need to have the summer meetings move back to either two regular meetings or we need to have them in the evening, in the summertime. That must be changed. We got an issue also that needs to be brought to the Municipal Council and a directive of license and taxes. You need to do something.

Next speaker, your time is up, thank you. Excuse me, you're out of order. Excuse me, you're out of order. You're out of order, next speaker. Next speaker, thank you, next speaker. All right. No, no, you're not. You got to please. No, you're not. Next speaker. No speaker. We're not going to we're not going to do that, Mr. Marmani. We're not going to do this. All right. You're out of order. All right. All right. Next speaker. Thank you.

Mr. Chair, her mic's not on.

Yes. Oh, sorry.

I don't want to see do it all.

All right, continue.

Help.

Okay.

Now, what's the work? I don't know.

Can you start a time over again? Okay.

Okay. Thank you. Okay. I just want to thank our boss for, I don't know, I just got to do it all in my mind. I don't want to say that, but I want to thank him for just questioning the recreation and parks. And I want to remind people that as I set out in the recreation early on, I created a proposal that I did not bring here, but for clutch code for coaching girls basketball. And there was nowhere that had any space. But when I went to North Newark, it did have space. The space wasn't being utilized. It was a bunch of people to talk to. Long story short, nothing came about. And that is a really bad situation that needs to be addressed. I put in a proposal here for each of the council people, not our most recent council person, Councilwoman Donna Jackson, because at the time she wasn't here. But I'm not saying that anybody should have accepted it, but I think it's wrong that nobody even said yes, no, maybe so, received it or anything. And I sent it to everybody here. And time after time, again, I'm looking at things happen to children. And again, I have at this point 34 years in this system. of teaching, 34 years of helping and dealing with families. And I don't care about any personalities. I think it's wrong that you ignore proposals that are well put together. And if that's not what happened, please take the opportunity to look at it. It's never too late to help our city and to help our community. Another thing I want to say is that There was a recent narrative that was published about Newark wins, which, okay, I agree that there are some wins in Newark, but I think we're doing a disservice when number one, we quantify healthy critique as hating and criticism. I think those words are far beneath the vocabulary that we need to be using in terms of community. And like I said, I see people starting to um talk about things but they need to be spoke about in the context of building right not ignoring people who have different um different uh perspectives on what needs to happen. In a true democracy, everybody talks together. And what's happening right now in the Newark Winds article, and I wrote a response to it, I published it on Substack, so I'm going to keep it on my social media page for anybody just interested in seeing it. There are people in situations that are not being addressed, people, renters, people impacted by a lot of things that I don't have time to identify them all, but I did so extremely well. so that we understand that this is a democracy. You cannot ignore me. I am 54 years old. I don't care who don't agree with me. The only thing I care about is that I come and I move respectful as I possibly can. I am a self-taught person and I'm taught also in institutions that I can give and offer some things to this community. And I need it to be for the sake of our children and families to be reconsidered the things that I put in please give me a response. I appreciate the consideration. Thank you so much.

Thank you. Next speaker.

Good afternoon. Thank you for giving me a few minutes today. My name is Pamela Roberson. I'm here because I want clarity about the future of the Morton Street School property in Newark. Morton Street has a long history in our community and the building has been sitting unused. My understanding is that Newark has previously discussed demolishing the existing building and replacing it with the new school. But I want to know where the plan stands today. My questions are very simple. First, I want the city of Newark or Newark public schools, the current plan for Morton street. Second, is there an actual plan? and timeline to demolish the existing building and develop a new school at that location? And has that plan been changed? Third, what funding has already been identified and what additional funding is needed from the state or federal government? And finally, what can you as councilmen do to help move this project along or move forward? I'm not here just to ask for another study or another promise. The community needs a clear answer about what is going to happen, who is responsible, how much it's gonna cost, and when we can expect action. If the obstacle is funding, I would like to know exactly how much is needed and what the federal resources may be available. If the obstacle is approval, planning, ownership, or coordination between the city and public schools, I would like to know that as well. Most importantly, I would like to leave this meeting with a specific next step and a person or office responsible for follow-up. This is not simply about an old building It's about what we're choosing to do with an important piece of our community and whether Newark families will see investment in this location. So my main request today is to please help us get a definitive answer on the future of Morton Street School and the funding needed, the timeline, and who will be accountable for moving forward. Thank you so much.

Yes, thank you so much. Thank you, Council President. Thank you for your comment. If you can just, we want to give you my office information. If you can send, because if you did send something to my office, I haven't seen it. So I don't know if you did or not. And then we can have a conversation about what that looks like and who we need to speak to to get the answers that you're requesting.

Okay. Madam Clerk, if you could strike the speaker, talk about and forward it to the superintendent, Mr. Roger De Leon, and tell him we would like to respond, not two weeks from now, we'd like to respond immediately. And tell him we understand, but we need this. Thank you. Next speaker.

Congratulations, Mr. President. Congratulations, Donna Jackson. Shout out to you, Ms. Roundtree. Congratulations, Amina Bey. So, , means we are all relations in Kent, right? My birth name that's on my social is Elijah Abdul Samad Morgano, all caps, no fiction. I go by MAQ, for Melanated, Anointed, and Quantum. I'm an urban shaman for griot. I like how y'all sound now, right? Two, three years ago, it didn't sound like this. But I'm going to notice to agent is notice to principal. I represent all Aboriginals and Indigenous that don't know how to do this, right? Do something? I do this well. I'm an emcee for real. And when somebody asks me to speak, I speak. So for Newark, let's break it down. Joey D versus Roz. What is a pilot versus normal tax? For years, Essex County versus the City of Newark has been fighting over tax money. But what's actually a pilot? Normal tax equals property tax split three ways. City, schools, and counties. Schools is the youth, right? Pilot, on the other hand, Zionist, equals city gives developers a break to build here. City keeps 95%. County gets 5%. School gets zero. That sounds like they don't care about our future, right? So why does this matter? County says North owes 2.1%. $2.4 million in pilot shares, not transferred until September 1st. North revealed delayed of seven plus years of equalization. Equalization means, oh, I got eight years in real estate too. I worked at SunTrust before it was truest. So the valuations on everybody home in the state of New Jersey or North is under or over-evaluated. So who's going to fit that bill? Hmm, shit rolls downhill in the army because I'm a disabled veteran. 50% is unfair assessment. County says that costs residents $20 million in unfair burden. This isn't about picking sides. It's about understanding where your money goes. Shout out to Jamar Youngblood for talking about transparency. So because you follow the money, you follow who moved my cheese. The full explainer is on Speak Freely Fact Checker. And this is the thing, right? I represent, we've been here 10,000 years before any colonizers arrived. 200 years on old the law eternal. This is a declaration. As I'm an aboriginal indigenous island descendant, we're offering DMZ. It's wartime. Like it's a war. And our war is genocide by paperwork because our people can't read. They can't read litigation. I'm in court representing myself right now trying to get visitation to my children because I don't mess with no colonizer. I don't care what body it is. And I've been experiencing violence for three years after attending 24 Hours of Peace. I love y'all.

Your next speaker.

Good morning, everybody. Welcome back. I want to thank the Lord for waking us up. Oops. My name is Darnell Alley. I want to thank the Lord for waking us up this morning, blessing our family, friends, the needy, the homeless, our families, our enemies. I saw Marquis in here, but he's no longer in here. And for all those that lost people, every day last week I went to friends. But I just want to give a moment of silence for those and let Marquis know that I was outside. I couldn't go in. I can imagine what he felt when I'm asking everybody to give him and his family extra prayers for the loss of his child. In Jesus' name, I say amen. And I specifically said that because he has done so much to help everybody, including me, along with a lot of y'alls, but I had to recognize that. I came down because I'm speaks to more, but as I was listening to it, y'all talked about certain landlords being on the list. I want to ask, why is it NORC Housing Authority in particular? I was looking at a video I keep talking about because I keep videoing this two minutes and one second or two seconds that Mr. Stewart has been talking about Turner, Scott Turner, about stewardship. So I'm asking, can y'all do a press conference? Because I started this journey in 21, 22, 23 other people are now experiencing. I want to tell them where no money was ever sent in there. Right now, you have apartments that need to be mold. They're renting apartments. I told everybody. Everybody's just allowing it. People are dying. The health department called and forced everybody to come out doing what they're supposed to do. You've got this manager who I all told you she got locked up for criminal mischief of damaging property. As a property manager, you've given false information to the health department, everybody, and tell them work is 95%. It isn't fair to keep having them all to keep coming out to see that nothing's been done. Y'all got water running inside the wall since March, since June. And every time I come down, I get retaliation. So after the July the 15th, I've been retaliated, but I'm not going to speak about that because I haven't came down to speak to the people that's going to help me because of the front rows. But let's consider putting that on. I think it's politically with North housing authority. I got everything. You can come in the buildings, you can look at the floors. I'll show you which floors got the mold on it. I'll show you which everything's covered up.

got people not building down that's not qualified we're going to get these apartments that are molded out thank you thank you final speaker hey family class is back in session and i want to start with the question of the day when does federal assistance become leverage over local government We're watching that question become more important in real time. Federal dollars can come with federal priorities attached. And when Washington changes direction, cities like Newark can suddenly face a choice, comply, fight, or figure out how to replace the money. But here's the problem. If those federal dollars vanish, poof, gone, NORC's responsibilities don't vanish with them. Public safety still has to be funded. Young people still need opportunities. Seniors still need services. Streets still need to be maintained. And all of that is happening while residents are already dealing with an affordability crisis. So when outside funding disappears, somebody still carries the costs. My concern is whether that somebody eventually becomes the NORC taxpayer. And let's not get distracted by the disagreement between the mayor and county executive DiVincenzo. That's the politics. I'm asking about the policy. Regardless of the personalities or political relationship, Newark residents still deserve to know what happens if the money isn't there. So tonight, I want to direct three questions to our business administrator. First, Which NORC programs or services are most financially vulnerable if anticipated federal funding is reduced or withheld? Second, of those costs, what can NORC realistically replace with local revenue without cutting services? Third, if NORC cannot replace those dollars, what portion of that financial burden could ultimately be passed on to the residents through taxes, fees, reduced services, or some combination of the three? I'm not asking the administration to predict every decision coming out of Washington. I'm asking whether we have a contingency strategy for decisions we don't control. And that's why the public deserves more than we'll figure it out after the money disappears. Tell us the plan so we can prepare. housing costs are up food costs are up gas is up insurance and everyday expenses are squeezing families if another burden could be coming residents should understand that risk before it reaches their bill so share the strategy with the people who ultimately carry the consequences Federal assistance should help a city build strength. It shouldn't leave a city so dependent that a change in Washington can destabilize the people back home. And that will leave us with the same question of the day. When does federal assistance become leverage over local government? That's the big one. I miss you. Class is back in session, baby. I'll be back tomorrow. I'll talk to the guy. We're going to get some of these, you know, those studio apartments in because we need them. Thank you.

Clerk, executive session.

Yes. Can I get a roll call for executive session, please?

Yeah. Bay. Yes. Council. Yes.

Crump.

Yes. Absent.

Yes.

Jackson? Yes. Kelly?

Yes.

Ramos absent. Scott Browntree? Silva? Yes. President Quintana? Yes.