Jersey City Municipal Council Caucus Meeting - June 9, 2026
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Jersey City Municipal Council Caucus Meeting - June 9, 2026
The Jersey City Municipal Council held a caucus meeting on June 9, 2026, to discuss a lengthy agenda including police motorcycle purchases, a camera-assisted parking enforcement pilot, a major tax abatement for the Canal Crossing development, a school funding ordinance, creation of a legislative counsel, and numerous routine resolutions and ordinances. No formal votes were taken at the caucus; items are expected to be voted on at the regular meeting. Key discussions centered on budget constraints, use of funds, community benefits, and legal authority.
Consent Calendar
- Resolution 26-336: Award of contract for 10 Harley Davidson motorcycles ($290,730) from federal forfeiture funds. Discussion included current fleet status (6 operational, 10 total functional) and officer staffing (12 current, aiming for 17-20).
- Resolution 26-315: Emergency temporary appropriation for grants totaling $9 million (HUD, NJEDA, NJDEP, library sponsorship).
- Resolution 26-334: Cancellation of $44,500 grant receivable for fire department PPE due to accounting error.
- Resolution 26-338: Shared services agreement with Newark Police for ballistic evidence analysis (no cost to city).
- Ordinance 26-034: Expanding CSBG board from 3 to up to 9 members (tripartite structure).
- Resolutions 26-329 to 26-333: IT contracts for Autodesk ($63,762), SDL ($61,444), Verizon wireless ($139,475), Dell firewall ($78,625), and Microsystems ($68,389) – many backdated.
- Resolution 26-353: Emergency rental of AC units for municipal court ($92,734) from state court funds; permanent replacement planned.
- Resolution 26-342: Application for WIC Maternal Health Center grant to provide blood pressure screening.
- Resolutions 26-339, 26-340, 26-341: Recreation grants for disabilities program ($20,000 grant + $5,000 match), sports lighting maintenance renewal, and fencing contract.
- Resolution 10.12: Application and acceptance of Love Your Block grant (Bloomberg) for beautification mini-grants (no match).
- Resolution 10.38: Application for NJDEP Urban Forestry grant for young tree pruning program (no match).
- Resolution 26-346: Cancellation of grant receivable balances from senior affairs and health department (small amounts).
- Ordinance 26-048: Renewal of lease for Brunswick community garden (adopt-a-lot).
- Resolution 26-328: Payment to Civil Solutions for digital tax map maintenance ($8,063) – contract expired.
- Resolutions 10.29-10.31: Modifying terms of EPA air quality monitoring grant subgrantees.
- Resolution 10.33: Public Health Infrastructure grant application ($100,000+).
- Resolutions 10.34-10.35: Companion grants for COVID funds (amounts TBD).
- Resolution 10.36: Pulled from agenda.
- Resolution 26-316: Adoption of cash management plan; discussion on divesting from Citizens Bank due to ties with private prison company.
- Resolution 10.3: List of qualified firms for bond counsel services.
- Resolution 10.44: Award of contract to Delworth for bond counsel.
- Ordinance 26-037: Extending bar/restaurant hours during 2026 FIFA World Cup (June 11-July 19) with $100 per day fee; debate on fee amount.
- Ordinance 26-047: Extending sidewalk cafe hours during World Cup.
- Ordinance 26-041: Capital improvements from fund balance ($9.5 million) for IT, public works equipment, road resurfacing ($3.5 million), and building HVAC.
- Resolutions 10.40-10.42: Open-end contracts for auto parts, fleet repairs (payloader/skid steer), and fleet management software.
- Ordinance 26-039: Setting 12-day deadline for agenda distribution.
- Ordinance 26-042: Creating Youth Liaison Council.
- Various resolutions honoring individuals (10.5, 10.6, 10.8, 10.9).
Discussion Items
Police Motorcycle Purchase & Forfeiture Funds
Director Kears presented the need for 10 new motorcycles to enhance traffic enforcement (824 summonses in May). Councilperson Gilmore urged using capital dollars instead of forfeiture funds to reduce taxpayer burden, citing a tight budget. Corporation Counsel stated the council cannot unilaterally change funding sources. The administration agreed to examine whether forfeiture funds can cover police salaries.
Camera-Assisted Parking Enforcement Pilot
Sustainability Director Diamond presented a pilot with Vendors Automotus and MPS to enforce parking in crosswalks, bike lanes, bus stops, etc. A survey of 814 respondents showed 27% felt parking behaviors significantly affect safety; 37% opposed the program. Councilmembers Gilmore and Afzal stressed equitable deployment across all wards and addressing root causes (lack of loading zones). Councilwoman Little raised concerns about privacy and data storage. The pilot will issue citations after community outreach; no vote taken.
Canal Crossing Tax Abatement & School Funding Ordinance
Deputy Mayor Poder and financial advisor Tom Banker presented a 30-year pilot for 500 units (20% affordable at 30-50% AMI), $88 million city revenue over term, plus new park and infrastructure. Independent analysis concluded project is infeasible without abatement. Councilman Lavaro requested alternative financial scenarios. Councilwoman Gilmore asked about environmental monitoring for chromium; administration noted existing monitoring and offered to discuss additional air monitors. School funding ordinance (3.8) dedicates 10% of pilot revenue to school capital fund with oversight committee. Councilwoman Little proposed higher percentage or operating budget allocation. Councilman Lavaro requested retroactive analysis for previous pilots.
Legislative Counsel Ordinance
Ordinance 26-043 to create an independent attorney for the council. Corporation Counsel Choice argued it violates the Faulkner Act (Newark v. Sharp James) and is likely ultra vires; she offered alternatives (dedicated council aide or law department division). Council President Ridley, Gilmore, and Lavaro supported the concept. Councilman Zupa questioned legal representation in lawsuits. Councilwoman Afzal opposed due to budget deficit. No vote.
Ward Redistricting Ordinance
Renee Steinhigan (NJ Appleseed) presented ordinance 3.12 to mandate objective compactness metrics and consideration of communities of interest. Corporation Counsel argued state field preemption and cited NJ Supreme Court precedent. Steinhigan countered with political reality and Newark's example. Councilman Boggiano asked about legal exposure; no vote taken. Likely to be replaced with a resolution.
Capital Improvements
Ordinance 26-041 appropriates $9.5 million from capital fund surplus for IT ($1.9M), public works equipment ($81,000), infrastructure ($5M, including road resurfacing), and building improvements ($2.5M, HVAC for municipal court and Bishop Street). Councilman Lavaro requested a full accounting of capital fund balances.
Key Outcomes
- The administration will provide analysis on using capital dollars for police motorcycles and explore divesting from Citizens Bank.
- Parking enforcement pilot will include public meetings in each ward and loading zone upgrades before citations begin.
- Canal Crossing pilot and school funding ordinance will proceed to public hearing; council requested air monitoring data and alternative financial projections.
- Legislative counsel ordinance remains under discussion; alternative structures may be considered.
- Ward redistricting ordinance likely not to advance; council may pursue a resolution urging state action.
- Budget constraints influenced many discussions; items questioned regarding use of funds and taxpayer impact.
Note: No formal votes were taken at the caucus. All items are scheduled for the regular council meeting.
Meeting Transcript
Okay, everyone, we're about to get started. If we can find our seats, silence our cell phones. I greatly appreciate it. If we can close the back door, side doors, I greatly appreciate that as well. Again, we're about to get started, so we can find our seats. Silence our cell phones, close the back door. Thank you very much. All right. Good evening, everyone. We are on the record. Today is Monday, the eighth day of June in the year 2026. This is a city council caucus meeting of the Jersey City Municipal Council. We had a scheduled 4 p.m. start. The clock on my cell phone is showing 403 p.m. May we have a roll call for the commencement of this meeting. Councilperson Brooks. Present. Councilperson Zupa. Here. Councilperson Efros. Present. Councilperson Little. Present. Councilperson Gilmore. Council person sing. I see you. Councilperson Griffin. Not here yet. Councilperson Levaro. And Council President Ridley. Here. We have eight council members in attendance at 4.03 p.m. On behalf of Council President Ridley and the members of the municipal council in accordance with New Jersey Public Laws of 1975, Chapter 231, the Open Public Meetings Act, also known as the Sunshine Law. Adequate notice of this meeting has been provided by the posting on the Bolton Board of First Florida City Hall, the annual notice, which is the schedule of meetings and caucuses of the municipal council for the calendar year 2026 and filed in the office of the city clerk on Tuesday, November 25th, 2025. In addition, at its time of its preparation, the agenda of this meeting was similarly disseminated on Friday, June 5th, 2026 at 9 30 p.m. And that's due to a lot of technical difficulties that we had with iCompass on Friday and all during that week. To the mayor, municipal council, business administrator, corporation council, and the local newspapers and posts on the C's website so I can certify as a total compliance with the Sunshine Law. Council President, I'm going to turn it over to you. Good afternoon, everyone. We have a very lengthy agenda for this meeting. Council people will I am going to ask that we do our best to stay on task and stay on the topic of the resolution or ordinance that is before us. And if we have any additional questions that don't pertain to those, that we take them offline. And I'm going to jump right in and we'll start with Director Kears. I'm here tonight to discuss resolution 26-336 slash one uh 1022. Resolution authorizes the award of a contract to Harley Davidson of Bergen County, Incorporated for the purchase and delivery of 10 Harley Davidson, FLT RXP Road Glide Motorcycles for the New Jersey Cooperative Purchasing Alliance, NJCPA for the use by the Department of Public Safety Police Division Traffic Enforcement Unit. Since its re-establishment, the traffic unit has aggressively focused on citywide enforcement of traffic laws, resulting in the issuance of more than 824 summonses during the month of May for various traffic violations. The acquisition of these additional motorcycles would further enhance the unit's operational effectiveness by enhancing mobility, allowing officers to navigate through traffic quickly and efficiently, improving response times by enabling officers to reach emergency situations more rapidly than traditional patrol vehicles in congested areas. Increasing visibility, thereby strengthening traffic enforcement efforts, deterring unlawful behavior and enhancing public safety, and supporting versatile deployment of traffic enforcement for crowd control, special events, and community engagement activities. Total cost of the contract is 290,000, 700 290, 730.
openpublica.com