Newark Municipal Council Special Meeting - August 13, 2024

The Newark Municipal Council held a special meeting on August 13, 2024, at 10:00 AM in the Council Chamber at City Hall, 920 Broad Street, Newark, NJ. Council President LaMonica R. McIver presided. The agenda included public hearings on five ordinances (second reading/final passage), several resolutions, introduction of eight ordinances on first reading, a 30-minute public comment session, and a conference portion with a presentation from The Nature Conservancy.

Public Hearings & Ordinances (Second Reading / Final Passage)

• 6PSF-a (24-0541): Ordinance to amend Title II to define vacant lots, clarify definitions, and establish registration requirements and fees for vacant lots. The administration explained fees would be $2 per square foot for renewal. Public speakers criticized the ordinance as unclear and lacking transparency. Adopted unanimously (9-0).
• 6PSF-b (23-1427): 25-year tax abatement for ADL 605-607 Broad Urban Renewal, LLC for construction of 84 residential rental units (71 market-rate, 13 affordable) at 605-607 Broad Street (Central Ward). Public comments argued the project violates the city’s inclusionary zoning ordinance (20% set-aside = 16.8 units, but only 13 affordable) and that developers should present their plans. Adopted unanimously (9-0).
• 6PSF-c (23-1335): 30-year tax abatement for WTJV Urban Renewal, LLC to significantly rehabilitate an existing 17-story, 279-unit affordable senior apartment building at 434-462 Mount Prospect Avenue (North Ward). Extensive public testimony alleged that the developer owes approximately $1.5 million in back taxes, received a retroactive abatement, and provided poor living conditions for seniors. Council members (Crump, Council, Ramos, Kelly, Scott-Rountree) expressed reluctant support after investigation, emphasizing that the abatement would improve seniors’ quality of life. The Business Administrator noted the tax debt figure may be adjusted. Adopted unanimously (9-0).
• 6PSF-d (24-0443): Ordinance adding parking restrictions (no parking at all times) on the west side of Fabyan Place between Nye Avenue and Lyons Avenue, and east side of Fabyan Place between Shaw Avenue and Lyons Avenue (South Ward). A public speaker questioned lack of resident notification and traffic study. Councilman Council stated a study was done and this is part of a larger plan. Adopted 8-0-1 (Crump abstained).
• 6PSF-e (24-0782): Ordinance designating 14th Avenue and South 6th Street as a multi-way stop intersection (West Ward). No public comments. Adopted unanimously (9-0).

Resolutions

• 7R1-a, 7R1-b, 7R1-c: Administration resolutions authorizing: (a) purchase/lease of wheel loaders via Sourcewell cooperative (not to exceed $1,533,992.60); (b) purchase of computer equipment and OPRA software via NJCPA (not to exceed $8,205,000.00); (c) application for NJ Forest Service Leafing Out Grant ($862,500.00 for management and education). All adopted unanimously (9-0).
• 7R2-a (24-1090): Resolution to authorize Invest Newark to acquire, maintain, and dispose of city-owned blighted, vacant, and abandoned properties (Land Bank). Council members requested more time to review specific properties, especially undersized lots and rear lots. Motion to defer adopted unanimously (9-0). The administration agreed to schedule meetings with ward council members.
• 7R8-a (24-1133): Waiving special event application permit fees ($100) for the Tillinghast Block Party on August 31, 2024. Adopted unanimously (9-0).

Communications (Introduction of Ordinances on First Reading)

• 8-a (24-1125): Ordinance adopting the Sixth Amendment to Newark’s River: Public Access and Redevelopment Plan. After a procedural correction, advanced and adopted on first reading unanimously (9-0).
• 8-b (24-1129): Ordinance authorizing sale and redevelopment of city property (Block 2838, Lots 6–21) to By Gomes, LLC for $4,077,777.77. Councilman Gonzalez requested physical address (79 North Street area). Adopted on first reading unanimously (9-0).
• 8-c (24-1131): Ordinance amending zoning and land use regulations to add sections on storm drainage and street designation. Deputy Mayor Ladd explained the amendment corrects omissions from last year’s zoning update. Adopted on first reading unanimously (9-0).
• 8-d (24-1140): Ordinance amending tax abatement for Oak Towers Urban Renewal Entity, LLC (76 affordable units at 2-30 Stratford Place) to extend construction timeframe. Adopted on first reading unanimously (9-0).
• 8-e (24-1005) & 8-f (24-1006): Ordinances amending permit parking hours (various East Ward streets) and meter parking hours on Ferry Street (reducing from 4 to 2 hours). Councilman Silva described a pilot program based on community meetings and a parking study showing 500–600 commuter vehicles daily. Adopted on first reading unanimously (9-0).
• Added Starters (7R4-a & 7R4-b): Resolutions concerning UEZ administrative budget and application for updated zone development plan. Adopted unanimously (9-0).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Lisa Parker: Stated the city has a $680 million deficit; tax abatements burden residents while developers get perks; called for rescinding abatements for non-compliant projects like Halo.
• Unnamed speaker (Ms. Singleton?): Criticized naming protocols and alleged seniors were pressured to vote for Council President McIver in exchange for boat rides.
• Veronica Hennett: Senior resident displaced to a bedbug- and roach-infested unit; requested relocation assistance. Council President directed code enforcement and health department to meet with her.
• Aisha Homan: Alleged racial bias in police psychological evaluations by Keystone Psychology; requested investigation.
• Mandeira El Bomani: Called for an independent monitor over tax abatement program and for family members to protect elderly relatives from political manipulation.
• John Goldstein: Opposed the Newark Riverfront redevelopment plan amendment; demanded aggressive affordable housing, traffic study, local hiring, and completion of Riverfront Park.
• Tanisha Garner (Homes for All Newark co-chair): Questioned why Ballantine Brewery was included in the redevelopment plan; requested meaningful community meetings.
• Donna Jackson: Criticized the lack of low-income housing, rising evictions, militarization of police, and the requirement to show ID to enter City Hall.
• Janice Apolo (Homes for All Newark): Held Councilman Silva accountable for not holding promised community meeting on Iberia development; requested a community benefits agreement.
• Miles Zhang (PhD candidate, University of Michigan): Opposed upzoning in Ironbound, arguing that development should be directed to the Central Ward which has lost population and has capacity.
• ICC CEO (Ironbound Community Corporation): Requested more community engagement, climate adaptation planning, and family-sized units for the Iberia project.

Councilman Silva responded that a second community meeting is scheduled for August 27, 2024, at the Portuguese Sport Club, and that the project will bring 300 affordable units and $4-5 million in annual tax revenue.

Key Outcomes & Decisions

• All four ordinances on second reading/final passage were adopted, including the controversial 30-year senior housing tax abatement (6PSF-c) despite concerns about back taxes.
• The Land Bank resolution (7R2-a) was deferred to allow ward council members to review specific properties.
• All communication items (8-a through 8-f) and added UEZ items were advanced and adopted on first reading; public hearings will be held on September 5, 2024.
• The Business Administrator committed to investigating alleged racial bias in police psychological testing.
• The Nature Conservancy presented its $8 million Newark Tree Canopy Initiative, including planting 2,700 trees and a green workforce development program.
• Councilman Gonzalez requested the Latino Festival budget; the Business Administrator stated funding would come from ARP anti-violence funds.
• Councilman Crump offered condolences for community advocate Eddie Porter.

Conference Session

The meeting adjourned the special meeting and began a conference session. The only presentation was from The Nature Conservancy, which outlined tree planting efforts (200 trees in Branch Brook Park), the urban heat island issue, and the future MOU for the Newark Tree Canopy Initiative.