The Newark Municipal Council held its regular meeting on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, at 12:35 PM in the Council Chamber at City Hall. The meeting was called to order with eight members present (Council Members Bey, Council, Gonzalez, Kelly, Quintana, Ramos, Scott-Rountree, and President Crump) and one absent (Council Member Silva). The agenda included public hearings on four ordinances, approval of numerous resolutions covering administration, economic development, engineering, finance, health, law, public safety, and water/sewer utilities, as well as public comments and new business.
Good afternoon. Welcome to the regular meeting of the Newark Municipal Council on Wednesday, April First. Please stand for the National Anthem, Pledge of Allegiance, and Invocation by Pastor Tiffany Moras. We thank you, God for allowing us to see this day we've never seen before. We thank you, God, as we are on this Holy Wednesday, God, observing this week of holy week that you remind us not to betray your word, to be slow to speak and quick to hear. Bless this council, God, they continue not to work for your people. Open the ears, God, of us that we be slow, God, to understand and put us on one accord. Allow love to abide, and we'll give you all the glory, the honor, and the praise in the matchless name of Jesus. We pray, 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 March 27th at the time of preparation and posted on the city's website. Roll call, please. Council members Bay. Present. Council. President. Gonzalez. Present. Kelly. Ramos. Here. Scott Roundtree. President. Nova. Absent. President Crump. Present. Council President, Council members, just by way of housekeeping for the record, Councilman Silva is excused today, so that we don't keep saying absent. Thank you. And before we begin, Councilman Silva did ask if we could have a moment of silence for um Albert Catinho. Umone who uh loved the city of Norfolk. Uh very good friends with with uh Councilman Silva and really with all of us up here knew him well. He always said he loved the city of Norfolk and did a lot for the city of Norfolk for the people of Norway. So we can just have a moment of silence. Thank you. Thank you. And before we begin, I just want to uh councilwoman Bay has some visit guests here today. Thank you, Council President. I want to acknowledge the presence of University High School, my alma mater. Yes, here with us today as council members for the day. I want to welcome them and thank them for being here with us today. They came all the way from the mighty South Ward. That's right. All right, all right. Thank you for being here. We hope you've had a good time and learned a lot about civics and about the city of New York. All right, Madam Clerk. We are on page three of the agenda. Item six is ordinances on public hearing, second reading, and final passage. Six PSFA is an ordinance amending special improvement districts to revise terminology and clarify collection and administration of the tourism improvement district license fee.