Newark Municipal Council Regular Meeting – June 5, 2024
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Newark Municipal Council Regular Meeting – June 5, 2024
The Newark Municipal Council convened at 12:30 PM in the Council Chamber at City Hall, with Council President LaMonica R. McIver presiding. All nine council members were present at the start. The meeting included public hearings on several ordinances, a lengthy public comment period, and votes on numerous resolutions. Notable discussions centered on a new intermodal container lot license, increased fines for truck parking, a 20-year tax abatement for a warehouse distribution center, and a retroactive 30-year tax abatement for a senior housing complex.
Consent Calendar
- All reports and recommendations (items 5-a through 5-d) were approved unanimously.
- Ordinances on first reading (6F-a and 6F-b) were adopted unanimously.
- Numerous resolutions (7R1-b through 7R1-g, 7R2-b through 7R2-f, 7R3-a through 7R4-a, 7R5-a through 7R5-e, 7R6-b through 7R6-k, 7R8-a, 7R8-c through 7R8-f, 7R10-a, and several added starters) were adopted by unanimous or near-unanimous votes.
- Communications 8-a, 8-b, and 8-c were advanced to first reading unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Intermodal Container Lot License (6PSF-a): Two speakers opposed the ordinance, arguing it would harm legitimate businesses, cause job losses, and unfairly target operators not leasing from the Port Authority. They submitted letters detailing legal objections.
- Warehouse Tax Abatement (6PSF-g): Multiple residents opposed giving a 20-year tax abatement to a large warehouse. Lisa Mitchelson-Parker questioned environmental and traffic studies and demanded local hiring guarantees. Deborah Salter asked how the city benefits. Donna Jackson argued tax abatements only benefit developers. Munirah El-Bomani called for an investigation into the abatement program. George Tillman, Jr., noted the lack of a mandated employment commission.
- Increased Truck Parking Fines (6PSF-f): Munirah El-Bomani asked what the city is doing to create truck parking; several truckers echoed the need for parking facilities.
- Hearing of Citizens: Many speakers raised quality-of-life issues. Darnella Lee demanded action on mold and unsafe conditions at Senior housing; Betty Owens described mold and rent struggles. Barbara Davis complained of poor management at Villa Victoria. Deborah Salters alleged election improprieties. G. Cureton criticized LM Management for conditions at Georgia King Village. Fahkeira Bradley said she was attacked by a security guard. Others addressed street sign issues (Rodney Davis), housing authority operations, and police pursuits.
Discussion Items
- Intermodal Container Lot License (6PSF-a): The ordinance creates Chapter 41 to regulate container storage. The Business Administrator withdrew previously proposed amendments, stating he would address concerns through future rules. After public comment, the council voted 5-4 to adopt (Council, Crump, Kelly, Scott-Rountree, McIver in favor; Gonzalez, Quintana, Ramos, Silva opposed).
- Warehouse Tax Abatement (6PSF-g): The administration explained the 20-year abatement for a 178,200 sq ft warehouse at 2013 McCarter Highway includes escalating payments (starting at 13.5% AGR, rising to 16.5%) and expects about 500 permanent jobs. Councilman Ramos added that the site was blighted and will generate nearly double the previous tax revenue. Despite public opposition, the ordinance passed 8-0 (Quintana absent from vote).
- Wesley Towers Retroactive Tax Abatement (8-d): A 30-year tax abatement for a 17-story affordable senior building at 444 Mt. Prospect Avenue was advanced to first reading after intense debate. Councilman Council opposed the retroactive portion, citing $1.5 million owed to the city. The Business Administrator said the city accepted $450,000 as settlement. Councilman Ramos and the administration argued the abatement is needed to fund repairs. The vote to advance was 7-0-2 (Council and McIver abstained; all others yes).
- Other postponed items: 6PSF-b (bond ordinance) was deferred unanimously. Resolution 7R1-a (youth mentoring) and 7R2-a (private sale) were deferred. The ceremonial street designation for Newark Knights (7R8-b) was deferred 5-4. The container lot emergency waiver (7R6-a) was returned to administration.
Key Outcomes
- Adopted ordinances (second reading): Intermodal container lot license (6PSF-a, vote 5-4); corrective deed for Essex County (6PSF-c, unanimous); multi-way stop at Orange & N. 5th Streets (6PSF-d, unanimous); capital ordinance amendment (6PSF-e, unanimous); increased truck parking fines (6PSF-f, unanimous); warehouse tax abatement (6PSF-g, 8-0).
- Bond ordinance (6PSF-b) deferred.
- Resolutions: Nearly all passed; deferrals noted above.
- Added starters: All passed, including a veterans service office memorandum and a water infrastructure rehabilitation contract.
- Communications advanced to first reading: Three ordinances (8-a, 8-b, 8-c) and the Wesley Towers abatement (8-d) will return for public hearing on July 10, 2024.
- Motions: Councilman Council moved to urge the New Jersey Devils to explore bringing a WNBA team to Newark (approved). He also called for an inspection of mold at JC White senior housing. Council President McIver moved to untable the Newark Museum project, which was tabled two months prior; that motion passed.
- The meeting adjourned at approximately 6:45 PM, after three hours of public comment and debate. No night meetings are scheduled for the summer months; the next regular meeting is July 10, 2024.
Meeting Transcript
Good afternoon. Welcome to the regular meeting of the Newark Municipal Council on Wednesday, June fifth, twenty twenty-four. Please stand for the National Anthem, Pledge of Allegiance, an invocation by Pastor Gerald Lydell Dixon. Have you not known, have you not heard? Everlasting God. The Lord the creator of the ends of the earth. Neither faints nor is weary. He gives understanding and power and strength to the weak. And to those that have no might. Father, we thank you for this day that you have made. We thank you for moving and giving us motion into a new month. Now as we gather, we pray that you will guide this city and its leadership. Watch over the mayor and the council as they make decisions on the behalf of the citizens. We pray now that you will usher in grace. Grace for life, grace for living, grace for lifting, and grace for learning. Continue to protect us as we are on the precipice of another summer. We ask that you would bless us with good health and as we make the decisions in the servitude position. We pray that these who have authority and sit in seats of decision making. Finally, Lord, I pray this prayer that you would bless this nation. Bless this state, bless this city for your good and for our grace. In Jesus' name we pray, and all the people said, Amen. Amen. Amen. In accordance with New Jersey law, adequate notice of this meeting has been provided to the Star Ledger, the Jersey Journal, and the public at large, establishing the date, time, and location of this meeting. In addition, the agenda for this meeting was disseminated on May 31st at the time of preparation and posted on the website of the City of North. Roll call, please. Council. Present. Present. Here. Present. Present. Good afternoon, Council President, Council members. We are on page three of the agenda. Item five, reports and recommendations of city officers, boards, and commissions. Before we um before we get started into the agenda, um, Madam Clerk, I do want to take the amazing opportunity, which is always my favorite time of the month, I would say, where I get to host our amazing young people from our city. And today we have Central High School visiting with us today. We are so excited to have them. It's been an amazing morning with them as they've made their way around City Hall, and many have had the opportunity to speak with them. Um, as folks know, I graduated from Central High School, so today is definitely a uh great day to have these amazing young people here with us today. And it's actually our final uh council member for the day program um for the season as we're in the month of June, and we only host them during a day meeting. So thank you all for being here. Um, and hopefully you're having a good time and enjoy the pizza because I I have to miss that, unfortunately. But definitely uh thank you for being here. All right, roll call on reports, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. Ordinances on first reading. 6 FA is an ordinance authorizing the mayor and or his designee to exercise this right of reverter in connection with the property commonly known as 204 Peshon Avenue. Roll call yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. 6FB is an ordinance amending title 23 traffic regarding stopping or standing prohibited at certain times to include fines for violations, council as a whole to adopt roll call, yes, abstain, yes, Kelly, yes, yes, yes, yes, I have yes, ordinances adopted today on first reading will be advertised in accordance with law, and a public hearing will be held at a regular meeting on July 10th or soon thereafter as possible. Public hearing, second reading, and final passage.
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