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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Passaic City Council Meeting – January 9, 2026

Council Meetings — Friday, January 9, 2026

BodyPassaic, New Jersey

SessionCouncil Meetings

DateFriday, January 9, 2026

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 47:17

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

0:07

By resolution of the municipal council adopted on June 17, 2025, setting forth the schedule of meetings for the year 2025-2026.

0:15

Send notice was published and posted on the city hall bulletin board by the office of the city clerk.

0:21

Please be further advised.

0:22

This meeting will be conducted in person.

0:24

The Zoom stream provided is reviewing only and is offered to the public as a convenience.

0:28

On December 17, 2025, public notice and instructions for this meeting were published in the Herald News and posted on the City of Passake website at WW.

0:37

City of Pisake.com Council agendas.

0:40

Instructions are also available on the last page of this agenda.

0:43

Please be guided accordingly.

0:45

Roll call, please, ma'am.

0:46

Councilman Councilman Love.

0:48

Present.

0:49

Councilwoman Mellow.

0:50

Present.

0:51

Councilman Mayer.

0:52

Present.

0:53

Councilman Garcia.

0:56

Councilman Garcia, I believe will be joining us by Zoom.

1:01

Councilwoman Colon Montañez.

1:03

President.

1:03

And Council President Cher.

1:05

President, should we open this rise?

1:07

Yes, Heavenly Father.

1:10

Thank you, Lord, for the meet this evening.

1:12

Father God, we ask you to please guide us with the agenda that has been presented before us in your beloved name we're praying.

1:18

Amen.

1:24

And to the republic for which is one nation under God in the visible.

1:37

We have been asked by the administration uh to redesignate item number 36 as stated on the cover sheet.

1:46

Are there any questions?

1:49

Are there any questions on the uh revision requested?

1:53

Seeing none, we'll accept that for tonight's agenda.

1:56

Uh we are up to hearing of citizens.

2:00

It is just us.

2:03

I think you're going to make a motion to close to this.

2:07

Second in accordance with the open public meetings act in JSA 10 colon 4-1 at sec the council opens every public meeting from comments of the public, however, in accordance with the JS 10 colon 4-12.

2:22

Nothing in this act should be construed to limit the discretion of a public body to permit prohibit or regulate the act of participation in any meeting.

2:30

Therefore, please be advised that the council will not entertain any comments in persons who communicate obscene material mixed statements which are considered bias intimidation, in which a person intends to intimidate any intimidate any individual or group because of race, color, religion, gender, handicap, sexual orientation, or ethnicity, or makes comments intending to arrest us to speak any offensive language.

2:51

The person who makes these statements will relinquish their line of five minutes for public discussion.

2:56

Um if you'd like to just the council, we invite your comments.

2:59

We ask you please share with us your name and your name.

3:02

Seeing no hands, we move to close the public portion.

3:05

Second motion and second, let's just scale it around and make sure this okay.

3:12

Councilman Love.

3:14

Yes, Councilwoman Mellow, yes, councilman mayor, yes, councilman Garcia Councilman Garcia.

3:22

Are you with us councilwoman Colombon Dañez?

3:28

Yes, and Council President Cher.

3:30

Yes, thank you.

3:31

Uh we are up to amendment number five on our agenda ordinance for second and final reading during this required number one proposed ordinance number 25-25 ordinance amending the designation of restricted parking for disabled persons by New Jersey license plate.

3:46

Number is there a motion, please to motion open.

3:50

Is there a motion to open second?

3:52

Motion and second roll call, please.

3:54

Councilman Love, yes, Councilwoman Mellow, yes, councilman mayor, yes, councilman Garcia, yes, councilman colommon d'enz.

4:05

Yes, Council President Sheer.

4:06

Yes, thank you.

4:07

Uh we are asked if there's anyone who would like to speak no one here to close now.

4:14

Is there a motion to close public hearing?

4:16

Yes, motion is above councilman mellow, yes, councilman mayor councilman Garcia, yes, councilman Colombo Danez, yes, and council president share.

4:33

Yes, thank you.

4:34

On the ordinance is there maker, please.

4:36

So move second motion and second, thank you.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Procedural█████████████████████████████29%

Budget Equity Analysis███████████████████████████27%

Affordable Housing████████████12%

Engineering And Infrastructure████████████12%

Zoning Board███████7%

Taxation███████7%

Healthcare████4%

Public Engagement██2%

Summary of Proceedings

Passaic City Council Meeting – January 9, 2026

The Passaic City Council met on January 9, 2026, to consider ordinances, resolutions, and budget updates. Key actions included passage of two ordinances, approval of consent items, and detailed discussions on the city's fiscal challenges, particularly rising health benefit costs. No public comments were made.

Consent Calendar

Items 3 through 12 were approved unanimously, including routine communications and approvals.

Public Comments & Testimony

No members of the public requested to speak; the public comment period was closed without testimony.

Discussion Items

Ordinance 25-07-44 – Affordable Housing Mandatory Set‑Aside Amendment: The Business Administrator explained that the amendment clarifies rounding of fractional affordable housing units: fractions greater than 0.5 round up to an additional unit. The ordinance was adopted unanimously.
Rent Leveling Board Update (Item 16): Councilman Mayer inquired about board caseload and decision trends. The Business Administrator reported the board is handling a high volume of cases effectively, with decisions favoring both tenants and landlords depending on documentation. Discussion also covered rent control exemptions, state statute interactions, and the city’s gap-year provisions. The board continues to function as intended.
Budget and Fiscal Outlook (Resolution items 23‑35): The Business Administrator provided an extensive update. Key points:
- The city faces an approximately $8 million deficit in health benefit costs alone, with a 35% annual increase (compounded from 24% and 30% in prior years).
- All municipal unions except the police voted down a proposed health plan change; negotiations with police and fire unions are ongoing.
- Reserves (surplus) are being drawn down; regeneration is limited by tight budgets.
- Added assessments from new developments and improvements are offsetting some tax increases, but the overall budget remains under pressure.
- A state health benefits plan exit was explored but deemed cost‑prohibitive due to self‑insurance funding requirements for the first year.
- Resolution 24 (local aid roadway improvements for Boulevard, Hillsideway, and Howe Avenue) was rejected as over budget; 25 (8th Street) and 26 (Brighton Avenue) were discussed but not voted separately.
Appointment of Compliance Officer (Item 23): A council member asked whether the appointee’s new role would affect her current duties; the Business Administrator confirmed it aligns with her existing work and she has performed well for over 10 years.

Key Outcomes

Ordinance 25‑25 (amending restricted parking for disabled persons) – adopted unanimously.
Ordinance 25‑07‑44 (affordable housing set‑aside rounding) – adopted unanimously.
Consent Calendar (Items 3‑12) – approved unanimously.
Items 13 through 21 (boards and committees) – approved unanimously after discussion.
Resolutions 23 through 35 – approved unanimously (excluding Resolution 22 for closed executive session).
Ordinance 36 (first reading of parking amendment) – set for second reading on February 3, 2026.
Bills – approved as presented.
Announcement: Council recognized Commissioner Christina Schratz’s swearing‑in at the county level, a historic first for Passaic as both the first woman and first Dominican American from the city to hold that office.
Meeting adjourned unanimously.

Meeting Transcript

By resolution of the municipal council adopted on June 17, 2025, setting forth the schedule of meetings for the year 2025-2026. Send notice was published and posted on the city hall bulletin board by the office of the city clerk. Please be further advised. This meeting will be conducted in person. The Zoom stream provided is reviewing only and is offered to the public as a convenience. On December 17, 2025, public notice and instructions for this meeting were published in the Herald News and posted on the City of Passake website at WW. City of Pisake.com Council agendas. Instructions are also available on the last page of this agenda. Please be guided accordingly. Roll call, please, ma'am. Councilman Councilman Love. Present. Councilwoman Mellow. Present. Councilman Mayer. Present. Councilman Garcia. Councilman Garcia, I believe will be joining us by Zoom. Councilwoman Colon Montañez. President. And Council President Cher. President, should we open this rise? Yes, Heavenly Father. Thank you, Lord, for the meet this evening. Father God, we ask you to please guide us with the agenda that has been presented before us in your beloved name we're praying. Amen. And to the republic for which is one nation under God in the visible. We have been asked by the administration uh to redesignate item number 36 as stated on the cover sheet. Are there any questions? Are there any questions on the uh revision requested? Seeing none, we'll accept that for tonight's agenda. Uh we are up to hearing of citizens. It is just us. I think you're going to make a motion to close to this. Second in accordance with the open public meetings act in JSA 10 colon 4-1 at sec the council opens every public meeting from comments of the public, however, in accordance with the JS 10 colon 4-12. Nothing in this act should be construed to limit the discretion of a public body to permit prohibit or regulate the act of participation in any meeting. Therefore, please be advised that the council will not entertain any comments in persons who communicate obscene material mixed statements which are considered bias intimidation, in which a person intends to intimidate any intimidate any individual or group because of race, color, religion, gender, handicap, sexual orientation, or ethnicity, or makes comments intending to arrest us to speak any offensive language. The person who makes these statements will relinquish their line of five minutes for public discussion. Um if you'd like to just the council, we invite your comments. We ask you please share with us your name and your name. Seeing no hands, we move to close the public portion. Second motion and second, let's just scale it around and make sure this okay. Councilman Love. Yes, Councilwoman Mellow, yes, councilman mayor, yes, councilman Garcia Councilman Garcia. Are you with us councilwoman Colombon Dañez? Yes, and Council President Cher. Yes, thank you. Uh we are up to amendment number five on our agenda ordinance for second and final reading during this required number one proposed ordinance number 25-25 ordinance amending the designation of restricted parking for disabled persons by New Jersey license plate. Number is there a motion, please to motion open. Is there a motion to open second?

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