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Record of Proceedings

Newark Municipal Council Special Meeting - May 13, 2025

Municipal Council — Tuesday, May 13, 2025
BodyNewark, New Jersey
SessionMunicipal Council
DateTuesday, May 13, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 8:06

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
0:03

I'm sure good morning, Council members.

0:06

Morning.

0:07

Well, you're not on yet.

0:11

Okay.

0:13

Good morning, Council President.

0:14

Good morning, Council members.

0:16

Welcome to this special meeting.

0:17

But today, Tuesday, May 13th, 2025.

0:23

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 time, date and time of the location of this meeting.

0:36

In addition, the agenda for this meeting was disseminated on May 9th, 2025 at the time of preparation and posted in the city's website.

0:45

Roll call.

0:46

Council.

0:47

Present.

0:49

Present.

0:59

Present.

1:02

I think we should stand for a moment of silence.

1:07

For our mayor, depart our departed mayor, Mayor Shark James.

1:11

Did so much for our people in our city.

1:28

Thank you.

1:42

Authorizing the use of competitive contracting to award a contract for one-stop career center operation under the workforce innovation opportunity act.

1:52

Any questions from the council?

2:02

Council?

2:03

Yes.

2:04

Gonzalez.

2:05

Yes.

2:06

Kelly?

2:06

Yes.

2:08

Ramos absent.

2:10

Yes.

2:10

Scott.

2:12

Yes.

2:14

Silva?

2:15

Yes.

2:17

President Crump.

2:18

Yes.

2:20

7R2AS is to rescind a resolution determining the project proposed by CL Enterprises L C meets or will meet an assisting housing need in the South Ward.

2:34

Can we get a quick explanation?

2:37

I understand it's due to a name change, but is that the only reason we're rescinding this?

2:46

Good morning.

2:47

Brandy Daniel, legislative coordinator for economic and housing development.

2:51

Yes, our council president.

2:52

This is in regards to the resolution of need that the council approved last week for the Sheila Oliver Project.

2:58

This was the original resolution of need that the developer um obtained, but due to the name change in the amendment in RDA, we had to redo the resolution of need to uh show the new name for the entity.

3:10

So we had to rescind this one, so there weren't two on the books.

3:14

Thank you.

3:15

Any questions from the council?

3:18

Roll call.

3:21

Council?

3:22

Yes.

3:25

Gonzalez.

3:26

Yes.

3:27

Kelly.

3:27

Yes.

3:29

Ramos.

3:30

Yes.

3:31

Scott Roundtree.

3:32

Yes.

3:33

Yes.

3:33

President Crump.

3:34

Yes.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural███████████████████████████████████████████43%
Tax Abatement███████████████████████23%
Affordable Housing████████████████████20%
Public Safety██████████████14%
Summary of Proceedings

Newark Municipal Council Special Meeting - May 13, 2025

The Newark Municipal Council held a special meeting on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at 10:00 AM in the Council Chamber at City Hall. The meeting began with a moment of silence in memory of the late Mayor Shark James. The council considered several resolutions and introduced an ordinance for a tax abatement. All votes were unanimous.

Consent Calendar

  • 7R1-a (25-0635): Authorized the use of competitive contracting to award a contract for One Stop Career Center Operator under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. Passed unanimously with Council Member Ramos initially absent but later recorded as present.
  • 7R2-a (25-0538): Rescinded Resolution 7R2-d adopted on March 20, 2024, which had determined that a housing project proposed by CO Enterprises, LLC met an existing housing need. The rescission was necessary due to a name change and amendment to the original Redevelopment Agreement. Brandy Daniel, legislative coordinator for Economic and Housing Development, explained that this was for the Sheila Oliver Project; the original resolution of need had to be rescinded so there were not two on the books. Passed unanimously.
  • 7R8-a (25-0692): Approved a ceremonial street designation honoring Sergeant Joseph Anthony Azcona at the intersection of Carteret Street and Broadway, to be officially named "Sergeant Joseph A. Azcona Way." The dedication ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, May 17, 2025, at 10:00 AM. Sponsored by Council Member Anibal Ramos, Jr. Passed unanimously.

Discussion Items

  • 8-a (24-0488): An ordinance granting a 30-year tax abatement to 449 Washington Street Urban Renewal Co., LLC for the construction of a new five-story building with 20 residential rental units (10 market-rate and 10 affordable at 60% of Area Median Income) located at 449 Washington Street, Block 115, Lot 15 (Central Ward). The council voted to advance and adopt the ordinance on first reading. The public hearing will be held at a regular meeting on June 12, 2025 (as stated during the meeting; the transcript notes some confusion between June 4th and June 12th, but the clerk confirmed June 12th).
  • Council Member Ramos requested that the clerk ensure logistics (sound system, chairs, area cleanup) for the upcoming street dedication ceremony on May 17.
  • An unnamed council member requested an update on a prior motion regarding a property at 13 Hecker Street, which had been discussed at the March 19 meeting due to deplorable conditions, fires, and squatters. The council directed the clerk's office to follow up.

Key Outcomes

  • All three resolutions (7R1-a, 7R2-a, 7R8-a) were approved unanimously.
  • Ordinance 8-a was adopted on first reading; the public hearing is scheduled for June 12, 2025, at a regular council meeting.
  • The council will follow up on the 13 Hecker Street property issue.

Meeting Transcript

I'm sure good morning, Council members. Morning. Well, you're not on yet. Okay. Good morning, Council President. Good morning, Council members. Welcome to this special meeting. But today, Tuesday, May 13th, 2025. 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 time, date and time of the location of this meeting. In addition, the agenda for this meeting was disseminated on May 9th, 2025 at the time of preparation and posted in the city's website. Roll call. Council. Present. Present. Present. I think we should stand for a moment of silence. For our mayor, depart our departed mayor, Mayor Shark James. Did so much for our people in our city. Thank you. Authorizing the use of competitive contracting to award a contract for one-stop career center operation under the workforce innovation opportunity act. Any questions from the council? Council? Yes. Gonzalez. Yes. Kelly? Yes. Ramos absent. Yes. Scott. Yes. Silva? Yes. President Crump. Yes. 7R2AS is to rescind a resolution determining the project proposed by CL Enterprises L C meets or will meet an assisting housing need in the South Ward. Can we get a quick explanation? I understand it's due to a name change, but is that the only reason we're rescinding this? Good morning. Brandy Daniel, legislative coordinator for economic and housing development. Yes, our council president. This is in regards to the resolution of need that the council approved last week for the Sheila Oliver Project. This was the original resolution of need that the developer um obtained, but due to the name change in the amendment in RDA, we had to redo the resolution of need to uh show the new name for the entity. So we had to rescind this one, so there weren't two on the books. Thank you. Any questions from the council? Roll call. Council? Yes. Gonzalez.

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