We welcome you to the March 5th, 2026 City Council meeting.

In accordance with Chapter 231 public laws of 1975, adequate notice of this meeting was provided by resolution of the municipal council adopted on June 17, 2025, setting forth the schedule of meetings for the year 2025-2026.

Said notice was published and posted on the City Hall Bulletin Board by the Office of the City Clerk.

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Please be guided accordingly.

Roll call, please, ma'am.

Councilman Love.

Councilwoman Mello.

President.

Councilman Mayor.

Present.

Councilman Garcia.

Present.

Councilwoman Colombo Banez.

And Council President Sher.

Present.

Shall we all please rise?

Heavenly Father, we want to thank you, Lord, for allowing us to meet this evening.

Yes, you're a police guidance in the decision.

So we'll take place this evening.

In your beloved name and friend.

Amen.

I put the back of the United States in America.

Council President, if I may.

Councilman Low just asked for a moment of silence for one of our citizens who've reached the landmark of a hundred years old, who just transitioned um on yesterday.

And that's uh Miss Rosa King.

Thank you, mom.

Thank you.

We are on the agenda tonight.

There is one addendum to item 5A.

Office of Congresswoman Lost, submitting a correspondence regarding the City of the Six infrastructure improvements project located at 86-34 and 34-10 Parker Avenue in the Say.

On the agenda, we're on room hearing of citizens room article four.

In accordance with the opening public meetings act, MJ SO10 code 4-4 that's the council opens every public meeting for comments of the public.

However, in accordance with the JSA 10 colonel 4-12, nothing in this act shall be construed to limit the discretion of a public body to permit, prohibit or regulate the active participation of any meetings.

Therefore, please be advised that the council will not entertain any comments from the citizenship communicated scene material.

If you would like to address the council, we ask you to please share with us your name.

Yes, sir.

Not kind of anybody out there.

Joshua Goldman, 185 High Street.

Uh, thank you for giving me the opportunity to address the council.

Um, I also want to thank uh uh Mr.

Fernandez for inviting myself as member of the public to attend the um planning board meeting that occurred last night to hear some of the uh discussions that went by.

I'm gonna address it's on the agenda tonight as item number 26, although I'm not speaking to what's on the agenda, just a related item that came up at the meeting last night.

Uh there's an apartment building located, uh, I believe it's 24 Orchard Street.

It's a 32 plus or minor apartment building, which is subject to that item 26.

My my uh I came up at the meeting last night within the study that was done for the the planning board that the building is a preexisting non-conforming use.

Mr.

Fernandez can correct me if I I misstated it, uh, and it was built in the proximate 1980s.

My understanding of a pre-existing non-conforming use is that it was built legally according to code at the time that it was constructed, and that the zoning or other uh ordinances changed thereafter, um, putting it into a non-conforming status.

Uh, if the building that exists was built in the 80s or potentially even before then, then it would never have been conforming at the time that it was constructed, it would be illegally constructed.

Uh and the item that the the council is now debating whether to include it in a uh uh area in need of rehabilitation in order to mitigate a lot of the challenges that are created by the not conforming use, uh in fact not necessary because if the use is not actually conforming, but in fact illegal, then the city has numerous other remedies that it can take to eliminate the use as it's occurring.

Uh and so I'm you know as a question, I'm trying to understand why the city is not uh addressing what appears to be an illegal use at that location.

Okay, Mayor, I don't know if you're comfortable offhand with such a question, or is this something that uh we'd like to uh consult with and perhaps at our next meeting have an answer at some conclusion of that?

So maybe it's possible very good, sir.

Thank you.

So um this is in reference to the item 26 on tonight's agenda.

Yes, for the designation.

So exactly when the building was built and the ordinances at the time we don't have on hand, but it is a legally occupied structure, so it's not an illegal building, it is a non-conforming building because it does not comply with any of the permitted uses under the current zoning.

So to say that it's an illegal building that would that was built without permits and it has certificate of occupancies, it's been inspected by the code enforcement office, it is a legally existing building that can be occupied, but it is a non-conforming building in the fact that it doesn't conform to any of the uses that are in that zone.

So that's where the non-conformity comes in.

Um Mr.

Goldman is not incorrect that under the law there are pre-existing non-conforming uses that pre-existed the writing of the ordinance and hence are entitled to continue, right?

And then there's buildings that have gotten approvals that you know receive the use variants that are still they're non-conforming with the zone, but they receive the use variants to be able to be occupied in that zone.

So the fact that um the legal term of pre-existing non-conforming is correct, that it existed prior, it's still the fact is that that building is a non-conforming building because it doesn't meet any of the uses, even if it got an approval uh use variance from let's say a zoning board.

So if in fact that building were removed and another one put in its stead, would it also by definition be non-conforming?

Say that again.

If that building would be vacated, and a new building, a new structure would be put built on that same space.

Does it then continue to be non-conforming?

Or is it no?

So it's based on the use, so it would depend on what is replacing that building.

Okay, yeah, and and and where that stemmed from the meeting is that you'll have before you a designation process, and we looked at every single property and the uses of every single building that is being designated, and all of those buildings are non-conforming uses, right?

So what does that mean?

That yes, this this building that has 32 units, a multifamily building is not allowed, and it just so happens that the other properties that are part of this are also non-conforming.

There are three families and four families, which are which are also non-conforming with the zone.

So that's kind of where the non-conforming um conversation came from.

If I can sorry, thank you for the uh clarification.

The other buildings that are uh sorry, may I continue?

I'll give you another two minutes.

Thank you.

Um the other buildings are older buildings that certainly pre- or apparently predate the uh the zoning within the city, so it's not surprising that they're pre-existing non-conforming uses.

This building seems to post uh exist post that that that zoning.

So uh and it could be that there is some approvals that were done at when it when it came up at the meeting last night, they were they weren't discussed, but obviously how that building was permitted and whether those permits were granted legally uh and other people.

Mr.

Goldman, I'm gonna introduce a moment because it seems to me that we're entering into a very uh technical discussion, which is not within the purview of this council, at least not at this time.

Um, if you'd like to go on other areas, that would be fine, but you should delve down to this uh right now.

Um it's not that I appreciate that.

I guess I can follow up with the uh business administrator uh after the meeting, it sounds like this should be information at the administrative.

Right now, appreciate it.

Thank you.

Thank you, the council.

Anyone else like to address the council of the state?

Yeah, no, closed public portion.

Second motion and second to close roll call.

Councilman Love, yes, Councilwoman Mellow, yes, councilman mayor, yes, councilman Garcia, yes, councilman Colombon Tanyez, yes, and council president shear.

Yes, Mr.

Mayor, it's a pleasure to have you here as it always is.

I think you missed one meeting and whatever.

Uh we councilman, of course, value your work.

Would you should I be asking you now?

Would you prefer speaking at the end of the meeting?

Is there a more upropos on it?

Very good, sir.

With the uh with the council's permission, we're up to communications one through five.

Are there any questions, please from one through thirty?

Seeing no hands is done on motion to move it.

Second motion and second roll call, please.

Councilman Love, yes, councilwoman mellow, yes, councilman mayor, yes, councilman Garcia, yes, councilman Colombo Tanes, yeah, and Council President Sheer.

Yes, thank you.

On items six through thirteen.

Are there any questions, please on six through thirteen?

Seeing that at this time is the motion, please to accept six through thirteen move second, move and second on six through thirteen.

Councilman Love, yes, councilman mellow, yes, councilman mayor, yes, councilman Garcia, yes, councilman Colombon Tanes, same and council president shear.

Yes, on 1411, please.

Is there motion to accept yes?

Motion is motion and second on 14.

Councilman Love, yes, councilman mellow, yes, councilman mayor, yes, councilman Garcia, yes, councilman Colombon Tanes.

And Council President Shear.

Yes, we're up to resolutions, please.

Item number six on our agenda.

Number 15 is a resolution authorizing closed executive session.

Do we need to close the second?

No, council president.

Very good.

Thank you, Mr.

Fernandez.

Mr.

Madison Very good, sir.

Members of the council.

All right, if we can go on, please to items 16 through I'm sorry, through 26.

16 through 26.

Councilman Love.

Yes, Council President.

Um, to the business administrator and mayor, just clarification.

Um, at least I I don't remember seeing this ever.

Uh alternate bid one, and that what what the what is that breakdown in terms of uh oh, I'm sorry, for 20 and 21 at the bottom.

It's just basically uh, you know, uh I I want to assume, but why when I have the professions here?

So basically, what happens we have a base bid, right?

And we establish what uh everyone has to like that's what the project's gonna be, and then we have alternates so that we can try to spend the entire amount, right?

So we'll put in a handful of alternates, and we hope that we can award them.

So if the bids come in low, we can award additional roads.

If the bids come in high, then it limits the amount of bid uh uh of roads we can do.

So this in the local housing in the local public contracts law, you have to put in the alternates in order, but so I'll give you an example.

If I were to put all of these alternates as the basement, and it came and it came in too high, right?

You got bidding, we gotta do it all over again.

So what we do is we pick a smaller project, that's the base bid, like the let's say the worst street of the worst, and then we do alternates, and depending on how that bid comes in.

If there's enough money, we'll award as many as possible.

We'll alternates right the base bid.

You always have to have the base bid.

If you can't do the base bid, then you can't award anything.

So the base bid is the the project, and then you have alternates like additional streets to that project.

Okay, in this case, yeah.

And if you did so, if you didn't have the alternates, um, and I'm just trying to make myself understand you did a great job.

So if you didn't have the alternates and there was money left over, you would have to rebid again for the rest of the project.

That's right.

Okay, and in some cases, the grant won't allow you to do that.

Right, you bid you're only allowed to bid it once and then not right.

Thank you, Council President.

Thank you, business administrator.

Thank you, Councilman.

Councilman Mandelpin.

Thank you.

Um, we eligible for any reimbursement from FEMA from this past storm.

Yes, we're currently working on uh submitting that.

In fact, I think it um by tomorrow we have to submit all of the paperwork.

Great.

Um then real quick on item number 18 and 19.

These weren't for city buildings.

What was yes, that's for every single building.

So 18 was an overage for the two-year contract, and then it's a new contract going out for 19.

Is that what it is?

Yep.

So what happened in 18.

What happened in 18 is that there was a major repair, which was the bulk of the change order at the fire department.

So that's why that one went up.

It was like almost 50,000 of the whole thing that went over.

And then what happened is ultimately uh Benmar, which was the company we had, um was bought out by another company.

Yeah, so then um uh we bid it out again, and they were the lowest bidder, and it's again for another two year term.

That's that's 19.

18 was an overage from the last, and that was because of that the major repair at the firehouse.

So eighty the new the new vendor for the city is giving a savings of 45,000 over two years.

Is that what I'm reading here?

Say that again.

19 is the new the new vendor, yes.

And they're giving a 45,000 decrease from what you were paying before, or what we were paying before in the prior two years.

So this is the savings of 45,000.

So that's what it says, yeah.

Award uh approximate amount of 135,000 dollars.

That's the catch.

That's I don't know.

Maybe maybe all of a sudden there's a lot more hours thrown in there than you don't know about it.

Maybe they may maybe for that don't say that too loud because you know they got a bit again, they got a bid again.

I don't want to say that too loud.

Let me just uh I'd like to see that, but thank you.

Thank you, Councilman Councilman Garcia.

Yeah, thank you.

Welcome back, Councilman.

Yeah, it's we've missed a rain and a cold.

Thank you.

At the end of the meeting, we understand you're covering the basis here for the council.

Thanks.

Uh online.

This is how the colour material, right?

Online.

Say that again.

No, so so it won't do it's maintenance, it's not equipment.

And just there's a there's a misprint, and I wish it were right, but it's it's uh a hundred and eighty-six thousand.

So it's actually six thousand more.

So I know what it says on the the title, but if you look at the actual resolution, because when you said that I was like, wait a minute, that doesn't sound right.

It's actually a hundred and uh eighty six.

Yeah, I can see that Mr.

Fernandes, can we come back to 26?

And tell me if you wouldn't be so kind.

What exactly are we doing with 26?

So 26 is just a designation.

Um we're designating the parcel land and area needed rehabilitation so that we can move to the next step of developing redevelopment plan.

So by the council accepting 26, is it accepting anything?

What exactly is accept it?

It's just saying that this particular parcel meets um the statutory criteria.

That's all it's that's all this does.

It says that we're you've you've designated an area need a rehabilitation because it meets the criteria uh set by the statute.

And what becomes the next developing a plan, and how is that then?

So uh in this particular case, there's a developer or property owner, right?

Who is going to submit some kind of draft of something that we're gonna negotiate from?

Who does the negotiation?

Is this the city part of that process?

Absolutely, because it's not a I mean it's an ordinance in the administration has to present it before the council, so they have to accept the proposal.

Obviously, what happens is there are things that they're willing to negotiate and things that they may not, and then that becomes a topic of discussion for the council at the time that plan becomes goes before them.

Is it possible that the owner of the property who wants to do XYZ to the property that whatever board or council or couldn't deny that?

Well, this so the process is the the council has the it's an ordinance, or the council has the ability to not accept the ordinance.

This is a resolution on 26.

Yeah, this is this is not to do with what you just said.

This is the plan.

This is just a resolution saying that this property meets the criteria and that you're designating an air-neater rehabilitation.

They have nothing to do with a plan.

It's not an ordinance.

This is not an ordinance.

This is just saying the study was done, it went to the the planning board, the planning board said it, it met and recommended it, and it comes back here for the designation.

That's it.

It's all but it's by law, it's by resolution.

Does the council have the ability when presented with the the ordinance, the proposed ordinance?

Does it have the ability to refute it to say no?

Absolutely.

Just like any ordinance.

Is that does that happen often?

Yeah, there's always discussion and changes.

I mean, you yourself have done that many a time on other results and other ordinances.

So in fact, what we're doing is we're taking the next step, but it's a bit of a baby step.

There's no commitment on behalf of the city at all.

No, okay.

Um, I'm reminded also that after uh the vote on these resolutions.

Uh I neglected to uh have a vote on 5A, so we'll take a separate vote on that.

So thank you to Councilwoman, as always.

Are there any other questions, please?

On the resolution, Councilman Mayor, please.

I'm sorry, I have a light on.

Mr.

BAM Mr.

Fernandez.

The 19.

I'm looking at 135.

Yeah, so look at it back up.

Okay, okay.

It says uh 43,000.

Actually, you know what you're yes, do you're right.

I was wrong.

I don't want to be right.

You will do me a favor, please.

Let's hold this moment because it's rarely been said because it hasn't needed to, Mr.

Fernandez.

So here's the question is it 186 or 135.

One third.

Okay.

I was wrong.

So we're saving 45,000.

Yes, you are.

We go back to the same initial statement.

Yes.

So let's say this.

Great job, Mr.

Mayor.

No, let's continue to talk about it.

Maybe we can make it even more.

Yeah, buy two million.

So we're in these ordinance.

Councilman Mayor.

Okay, thank you.

Any other questions?

No.

If not, can I have a motion, please to accept 16 through 26?

Move it.

Second.

Local, please.

Councilman Monk?

Yes.

Councilman Love?

Yes.

Councilman Mellow?

Yes.

Councilman Mayor?

Yes.

Councilman Garcia?

Yes.

Councilman Colombon Tannez?

Yes.

And Council President Shar.

Yes, thank you.

5A separate vote.

Is there motion to accept, please?

So move.

Second.

Motion at second on 5A.

Councilman Monk?

Yes.

Councilman Love?

Yes.

Councilman Mellow.

Yes.

Councilman Mayor?

Yes.

Councilman Garcia?

Yes.

Councilman Colombon Tenez?

Yes.

And Council President Sher.

Yes, thank you.

Uh to remember numero seven on our agenda, ordinance for introduction and first reading.

Number 27.

Proposed ordinance amended the designation of the street departments for disabled persons by New Jersey license plate number.

Is there a motion to accept for set down for second and final reading in our next meeting of March 7th?

So move.

Motion.

Second.

And second, thank you.

Roll call, please.

Councilman Monk?

Yes.

Councilman Love?

Yes.

Councilwoman Mellow?

Yes.

Councilman Mayor?

Yes.

Councilman Garcia?

Yes.

Councilman Colombon Tannez?

Yes.

And Council President Shar.

Yes, thank you.

Number 28, please.

Proposed ordinance amending city code of the city of Passaic.

Chapter 295, vehicles and traffic.

Part 10, residential parking permits.

Article 21, residential parking permit requirements is their motion, please set for set down for second and final reading at our meeting of March 17th.

So move.

Thank you, roll call.

Councilman Monk?

Yes.

Councilman Love?

Yes.

Councilman Mellow?

Yes.

Councilman Mayor?

Yes.

Councilman Garcia.

Yes.

Councilman Colombon Tanez.

Yes.

And Council President Sheer.

Yes, thank you.

We're up to 29, please, Councilman Mayor.

You're like a song.

Just a quick question.

When this is on 28.

On 28, yes, sir.

Presidential parking in the grade out area in the street delineated.

Is that what it was?

Yes.

And what was the criteria that this area was chosen?

So it's starting with residential complaints, especially during the storm that people were parking on their blocks.

There's a lot of small blocks within this area as well.

Um it literally is the last block.

If you from Brook to Turhune, it's like the last two blocks in the city that abuts Clifton.

And the idea similarly to what was passed with the east side parking permit, people parking from Garfield Inn.

Uh this would make it only Passake residents overnight.

Only Pisake residents overnight would be allowed to park in this area.

Do we know what caused people to park from Clifton or wherever in this area versus so people were just looking for parking and they were it was bleeding over?

There was better ploughing in Passaic.

Yes.

There's also certain areas in with um Mayor just where there is also certain areas of Clifton also have residential parking permits, which it also might preclude us from parking in Clifton as well.

So that may have caught that might have caused a especially with limited parking with all the piles of snow in Clifton as well.

That that might have bled over into the city.

So the email we received from one of the residents that was on gold was actually an ongoing issue that some of the people that live in the neighborhood didn't have enough parking and were parking on their little one little three house block, uh filling up the whole block, and it was tough for them to get in and out of their driveways and things like that.

So this should open up a greater uh amount of parking.

If we reduce the people that right, if if we reduce people from bleeding into the city, then the our residents may have more areas uh to park in.

And well, this is also you know, one of the biggest storms we had in the last 30 years is over 20 inches of snow.

So it was a busy snowstorm.

No doubt, no doubt.

I just want to like understand that this you got complaints that there's no parking during a snowstorm, and before and before that, oh there's gonna be a response to that, and then hey, look, and then people start to like, wait, I can't why do I need a permit?

I was fine for the past 20 years until we had a 20-inch snowstorm.

Yeah, so I quite frankly, and I I think um the mayor has said this sometimes in a lot of meetings, like with zero dollars down, you can go, and now you have you know, we're used to have one or two people in the house share a car.

You got everybody has a car in the house, um, and some of these driveways can only fit like one or two cars, and they're all bleeding in the street, and that because of the type of residential neighborhood it is, it's very common that these so in that area.

I actually lived right around the block on um park, which is also included on this.

Um, there are smaller, more modest sized homes with smaller driveways that don't fit as many cars as you know, some of the larger homes that have bigger driveways.

So if you have more than two cars, that that car is bleeding out to the street.

In some cases, it's only a one-car length, and it's not just the Passake side, it's almost like a mimic on the Clifton side.

So, you know, it's very simple for those vehicles to bleed into that area as well.

So we needed a delineator, so we we started from Brooke over, which is only the one, you know, you have Marietta in between, and then you got the one block of Terhune.

So it's not like you know, it's literally one square from one block.

Yep, two more on this, and I'll leave you.

Yeah, the what what are the so you got a house, you got four kids in college, they're all driving.

You got six cars for a house.

They're all all those cars are now eligible for these parking permits.

Yeah, so if they live in the home, they're they're they're eligible to get the parking permit.

In fact, there's also um Madam Clerk, if you can help me out with just the numbers, because I know we've done several parking permits because we also have the main avenue parking permits are a little different than the residential ones.

We have visitor parking permits that people can get, and each one of the units visitor permit per household, and then anyone in the house that has a Pastane driver's license, can they get their permit?

That was my next question getting to the visitor.

So you invited over family for you know two, three days to spend the holidays with you.

You can get a permit for them.

You have to apply for it, or you automatically have that permit in your now.

You can apply for a permit and just keep it at home for whenever you need it, but if you need additional for those additional guests, you would have to come in and request those before you can have one of those passes at home.

That's it.

Thank you.

Councilman, thank you, Council President.

Um, this is something that I mean, I know we've talked about this in the past because fourth ward definitely is it.

Um, because the fourth board um second ward where we do have a lot of the auto mechanics that um bring their cars, leave them out, and we've had residents really complain about them because they will keep the cars and then residents get a park.

So I think this is something I know we've we've spoken about this, but this is definitely those wards that have more shops.

Because I know we did uh pretty much all the first ward because that's the whole east side is done.

Um then we did the main avenue one, and then I know we're looking into the island burgess area one.

The process of that one, and then this one.

Yeah, I think the right maybe I think that councilman, we we attempted to address the mechanic and autobody uh issue directly through ordinances and policies, however, through our zone parking permit initiatives, obviously in the initial implementation, there has been pushback, and then uh uh after about a month or two, the residents see the benefits as there are less vehicles on the road from other areas, and then they begin to express buy-in.

So we've gotten slowly, it's been a gradual uh effort to try to address the congestion within our city as the business administrator articulated there's been an increase of vehicle ownership.

We've seen it.

Obviously, further exacerbating issues with mechanics parking their vehicles on the road.

Some of our neighboring municipalities with Garfield and Wallington that have overnight parking permits, Clifton as well, so in areas closer to our borders make it more attractive for residents to park right over the border and to Persake and leave their vehicles there.

But in these uh small areas where we've noticed an increase of parking concerns, we've implemented them in zones, and we've seen them benefit the residents again as any transition of initiatives first presented.

There's always pushback.

But we've seen some positive feedback.

Hopefully, as we continue to identify areas, we can target it specifically.

But it is it is something that we are seeing is the benefit.

We want to be careful with that.

I know in the past when we've tried to broadly apply the concerns of one area throughout the entire city.

There have been concerns raised as to whether this would send the wrong message or impede individuals from wanting to come to the city, whether visiting or shopping or otherwise.

The model that we've seen most effective is the overnight parking permit, specific hours, whether from uh 3 a.m.

to 6 a.m.

Okay, because it it really prevents the individuals from just leaving their vehicles in our city, especially uh where otherwise they would find the driveway or uh parking their city.

We we are getting more and more requests from residents in every ward to really look closely at parking permits.

Thank you.

Yes, Councilman Monk, is is your light on, sir?

Yes, it is.

Yes, it is, yeah.

Yes, Councilman Monk.

Thank you.

Uh if we could ask you to speak a bit, yeah.

The there's a few side streets that actually uh jet out from like for instance Anton Street.

There's like three homes.

Yeah, right.

There's little side streets there.

I believe that's that's I believe that is.

Um is that already Clifton?

Halfway through down Anton.

That's very clifton.

Yeah, so If you could draw those little side streets off to you.

Okay, fine.

Okay.

Some of the biggest issues are on those little side streets.

Right, right.

Right.

So it's gold, you can't see the uh gold street.

That's why there's that includes right.

That's a pretty much the border.

And then you have Anton, which is three quarters of the road, and then on Park Avenue to the city line.

So that delineation is the city line.

So basically, it's from the city line to Brookev.

Okay, thank you.

Councilman Lowe, please.

Yeah, just real fast on uh ordinance 29.

Um, I I think I kind of read through enough to understand, but I just want to be sure.

Um trout, you can take the fish at this point.

That's why the that's why they told us we needed to change our ordinance.

We had a catch and release, and they're like, you can keep the trout now.

Okay.

You can't keep one.

Um, but I thought I was reading, but still um I mean, there's still catch and release for other fish.

But hooks are still hook and lost it has to be hook in line.

You can't do like a net or something.

It's very specific.

Okay, all fishing except by hook and line is specifically prohibited.

That's right.

Okay.

So hook in line is the only line.

Okay.

Thank you.

Okay.

Yeah, I gotta give back.

The mayor is sharp, man.

The mayor goes out there and just catch them like you know, you shoot them three pointers.

Madam Clerk, wrong 29.

The um correct.

The fishing initiatives with the fire department and police have become extremely popular every year, along with our um our camp out.

It's one of the highlights in the morning where the youths come those who couldn't camp out or come in the morning to go fish, but stocking do are usely in uh the fishing, but we're seeing a lot of people who want to take the fish with them.

Yeah, definitely the sources to the other only the traps.

Madam Clerk 129.

Yes, sir.

129 in order to mending chapter 20, the three parts and playgrounds to amend section 203-4, third ward park regarding fishing at Hughes Lake in order to conform with New Jersey fishing game law and facilitate participation in New Jersey DEP fish and wildlife spring trout stocking program.

Is there a motion please to accept for second and final meeting at our meeting of March 17th, please?

So and second royal call, please.

Councilman Monk, yes, councilman Lowe, yes, councilwoman Mellow, yes, Councilman Mayor, yes, Councilman Garcia, yes, Councilman Colom Montañez, yes, and Council President Sherry.

Yes, thank you.

We're up to 30, please propose the ordinance amendment chapter 317-30 B sub eight.

Affordable housing mandatory set aside.

Councilman Mayor, please.

Um we did a lot of affordable housing in the past couple of meetings.

Yes, this is this going backwards on it.

No, it's actually clarifying.

So apparently it still wasn't clear enough.

Um, so what we did in this one is specify exactly where you go find it.

That's why we specifically said you go to the schedule of regulations, look at the use that you're proposing.

That's where you find your density, and based off of that is where you do your set aside and you round up or down from there.

So even though the only word, the only time you see density is in the schedule of regulations, there were still confusion.

In fact, um as late as this afternoon, Susie and I were looking at it, and she's like, Yeah, no, no, this makes a lot more sense to me now as well.

So uh we made it very, very specific so that there is no confusion.

We led you right to the section.

If anybody's confused now, they're not reading the ordinance, they're looking at something else.

But basically, this doesn't change, this doesn't change anything the council's passed except the way we frame the way we we the verbiage we use to direct you to the section.

That's it.

But it's the same, it's the same meaning as was intended from the very first ordinance that you passed.

Thank you.

Any other questions on 30?

Uh on 30 or 30 or 29.

I'm sorry.

30.

Um 30, and ordinance amending chapter 317-30 B Affordable Housing Mandatory set aside.

Is there a motion, please to accept or sit down for second and final reading at our meeting of March 17?

So move.

Motion and second roll call, please.

Councilman Monk, yes, councilman Lowe.

Yes, Councilman Mellow, yes, councilman mayor, yes, councilman Garcia, yes, councilman Colombon Tanies, yes, and council president shares.

Yes, thank you.

Payment of bills, please.

Are there any questions on the bills as presented by the clerk?

See a lot of refunds.

Motion and second roll call on the bills.

Councilman Monk, yes, councilman Love, yes, Councilman Mellow, yes, Councilman Mayor, yes, councilman Garcia, yes, councilman Colombon Tannez, yes, and Council President Shares.

Yes, thank you.

Administrators report, Mr.

Fernandez.

Not at this time, sir.

Very good.

Thank you.

Mr.

Mayor, sir.

Mr.

President, um, today we have the office of Neo Americans from the state of New Jersey present to not-for-profit organizations and faith-based organizations in the city at uh city hall.

It was an extremely successful meeting where they uh explain to leaders of not for profits and uh religious institutions the resources available throughout the state of New Jersey, the Office of New Americans, which deal with refugees and those seeking asylum, as well as um those who are in the process of uh dealing with their immigration status.

It does not itself provide legal services, nor does it involve itself in regards to getting in between immigration enforcement and individuals.

However, it does provide information regarding all the resources available and connects families to these resources, ranging from mental health support, family services when families are separated, funding available for those who are in detention or potentially about to be deported, legal aid support.

They work with a number of partners ranging from Catholic charities to Rutgers University legal department and many others throughout the state.

This agency was formed in uh 2019, July 4th under the previous governor's administration.

However, after COVID, it I don't want to say it lied dormant, but it wasn't as much activity.

It recently, for obvious reasons, has found itself in a position of greater uh interest around the state.

There are presently 15 uh municipalities, I mean states that have offices of new Americans, and uh we are one of the few municipalities that have had them present and work directly with our not-for-project organizations.

In uh this upcoming month, we will have an expungement clinic in the city of Passake.

It's been uh highly requested by not-for-profit organizations and residents.

Uh our assistant to Senia Apias with her legal background as an attorney, will be directing this initiative with uh organizations from around our area.

Yesterday at our seniors center, we had uh a particular presentation regarding energy and electric bill savings through solar panels.

It is uh a remarkable initiative.

Council members in a letter was sent out to our residents, but we will be hosting additional community town hall meetings where you can save up to 31% of your energy costs with solar panels that do not go on your property.

Meaning, if you are uh in an apartment, you can sign up if you're home.

They place the solar panels in a property outside of your home, sometimes outside of our city, sometimes far away from our city, as far as South Jersey, where they're fine, uh let's say a warehouse.

I can see the eyebrows of Councilman Monk Ray, so let me try to elaborate.

Um, they'll find a warehouse with about a hundred thousand square feet of roof, and they'll place the solar panels there because of funding that was provided years ago to the federal government and state tax credits, or rather um state energy um reimbursement credits.

They apply that energy savings to homes in communities like ours, where you have income eligible residents as well as those who do not fall under the income eligibility to give you some uh idea of what that means.

If you're a one-family home, I mean a one-person home, you can't make more than 72,000.

For individuals who are income qualified, you see the savings within six months.

If you make a lot more than that, you still qualify.

You just don't go first on the list, you'll begin to see the savings about a year after that.

So it's almost uh set it or forget it, you apply.

But again, you don't need permission from your landlord if you're paying the electric bill because there are no panels put on the actual building.

The energy actually is coming from separate location, but the benefit is to the residents.

We're in a very aggressive initiative to spread the word.

Um, please look out for your emails as we will send the information through the clerk.

But so far, we've had over 330 residents sign up in the city of the state.

Um we've sent out a lot of communication, but as you can imagine, some residents receive them and uh they say it's from the city, it must just be that tax bill or that.

Also, I wanted to share with you that uh our phlebotomy classes have uh filled up once again, and they become extremely popular within our city.

These classes for job trainings, maybe from SORA licensed to uh lab technicians to phlebotomy to CDLs and much more, but that actually ties in to a particular bill that our council president and his role as assemblyman may be familiar with.

The state just presented, I believe, legislation through Senator Lugana regarding uh unemployment and our unemployment agencies, our labor force agencies to direct unemployed individuals to get into the health care field and receive training because data has shown that there is a drastic drop in uh in eligible individuals going into these fields.

That is extremely important for us because we've been doing this training in various areas of the medical field, but we will now see if it obviously has gone out of committee if it's signed by the governor.

Um they will see an immediate push for those who are unemployed to be trained and sent directly into the health care field.

So that is uh exciting.

Um I want to let you know that we recently had a meeting with representatives from the attorney general's office, uh Jennifer Davenport, and I spoke to her personally regarding our efforts, considering FIFA coming here, and event driven activities of that magnitude, including Super Bowls and things of this nature.

One of the concerns, and this is more of a dark topic, is that there is an increase of incidence of human trafficking when you have incidents like that, whether hotels, Airbnbs, factories and warehouses where they identify individuals that are in these areas.

Um we are we've been working on activities like this since the Super Bowl was in New Jersey.

We've been extremely successful in identifying areas, businesses, uh, online um communications and that fall into these categories or red flag are red flagged by our police department.

They actually uh reached out to us to find out what we were able to do over the last few years that have been successfully recognized in terms of our efforts and shutting down any businesses that operate uh within uh the definition of what can be considered human trafficking.

Unfortunately, there are so many incidents, and sometimes people associate human trafficking with just uh sexploitation, but it can also be labor, individuals that are uh trafficked or transported into the country and forced to work in some businesses like hair braiding or salons or as uh as maids or nannies at zero to no pay for extended hours and the entire day with holding their papers, passports, or with some kind of debt presented before them that they would have to pay back.

And uh there will be uh an educational component that we will be a part of over the next few months, working alongside hotels, educating the community how to easily identify incidents like this.

Again, I reiterate we've had town hall meetings and presentations over the last uh six years with this, but uh most recently with FIFA coming in with the Super Bowl, which is usually one day with a week buildup, FIFA will be many, many days.

And with individuals coming from around the world, it is at the forefront of uh many government officials' concerns.

It's been spoken about a number of times by our new attorney general, and I want you to know that uh along with our our chief of the police, I had actually approached the attorney general to present our initiatives, and then we met with the head of their department to give details as to what we have done and share our desire to collaborate with them in any way possible, get the information out.

Um with that stating, I wanted to share that um there is uh the reception uh or rather the receiving of uh of amendment 5A.

I did want to share because the business administrator had asked me about it regarding uh three million dollars, Council President members of the city council, uh, regarding the efforts to uh to construct uh potential parking deck.

Many of you are familiar, me and Councilman Mayor discussed it often and in detail over the years.

I shared with him over the year of my capstone project.

Uh many of you were aware when I did the presentation at uh at the Dayton Avenue Complex.

Um, I was able to share directly with the council president that it was the topic of my capstone project for Rutgers.

Um, in fact, me and him had extensive conversations of my frustration that the SDA does not fund parking.

I had shared with the council president in his uh role as an assemblyman that one of the frustrations I had when they did the Dayton Avenue Complex understanding the SDA does not provide for parking, and that it was a perfect storm there with our distribution centers, the warehouses, obviously, a more densely populated area, and with the school that unfortunately there is no parking.

So that I would be pursuing uh funding for the uh Dayton Avenue Complex parking deck.

I've actually presented it over the years to the city council in my reports, a number of them when I'm given the chance in the morning.

But we we've applied uh for a few years for funding.

I actually had joked with our assemblyman about us potentially getting another bite of the Apple for funding, which the assemblyman joked back.

I don't think so.

But that that is to his credit accurately.

We we have not gotten additional funding from the state for it.

Uh I did share that I would pursue uh additional funding for that parking deck, that it would be a number of of three major projects.

I think I shared with uh councilman monk when we said that once that there is the uh the Aspen Place project, it's a big one, the parking deck in Dayton Avenue and Parker Avenue.

I joked here in front of the council a number of uh meetings where I said uh well the name Parker Ave is already there, so all we need is additional parker for the Avenue.

But I share that because I sometimes share so much when I'm given the opportunity to give the reports in the morning that uh I just wanted to update.

We did pursue funding, federal funding.

We actually had applied for uh 15 million dollars.

Um we did not receive 15 million dollars, as you guys can imagine.

We we had applied uh initially with uh Congressman Pascal and met with this office about it, and again, I remember some of you uh were aware of the town hall meeting at Dayton Avenue, and the school was present there, the school attorney was familiar with it.

We actually discussed with him in detail of uh of a mutual uh agreement or an agreement that we can make for the use of the parking lot to join and uh talk to the diocese with us stated.

We received three million dollars.

Three million is obviously uh enough to get the conversation moving, not enough to construct the parking deck.

Um I remember when uh when I was called uh and asked, and uh again, I think Councilman Mayer, who took some interest in my capstone project and rockers and I had shared with him the idea of uh of using that.

That was the topic of our parking deck because and I even presented pictures of the meetings that I had regarding presenting it and information of presented in front of the council with the dates in case anyone uh needs to be uh sort of more familiar with it.

With that stated, we will continue to apply.

And one of the challenges we had is we wanted to repurpose uh four million dollars that we have received when Congressman Pascal was in the office to that project, and uh this this federal government uh administration said give us back our four million dollars.

So they did take back the four million dollars, which uh obviously uh was okay because our parking deck was completed, but would not allow us to use it for a second parking deck.

They said you have to apply again next year, which has been their response a lot in terms of funding for different projects.

I say all this to recap so that you understand that coming next year, we're looking to apply again.

They've apparently started a new policy where you can only apply now for four million dollars.

So prior, you could apply for the 15 million.

You might get seven, you might get eight.

Their new direction is no municipality can apply for more than four million dollars for a single project.

You can apply for different projects.

I think it's up to two projects, or is it more two projects, four million dollars?

Which begs the question how do we decide these projects?

I think that over the course of the year, we have conversations such as in this one parking permits, or we consider FIFA, or we may discuss uh an issue of recreation, a need in the city, or a park or a partnership with the county, and in the presentations and the mayor's update, I may share that we're looking to get funding in the future.

We're gonna look to have more specific on the record um reports of these conversations because we understand sometimes when the funding comes in, it's easy to say.

Remember, we talked about this for the last two years, but then people go, when how did you mention and we go that's fair?

So for the future projects, when we discuss them here, I think it would be helpful, and we'll submit them to the clerk to let you know when we're gonna apply for these fundings because that's all it is is application.

I mean, obviously, we we have the hope, optimistic that we would receive it.

But when a senator or a congressman says, What projects do you have?

And they say, uh you can go up to four million or go up to two million.

We consider the needs of the community.

This is a major project.

Uh, I will admit I've been working on it for uh going on four years.

I identified the area one day driving down Dayton Avenue and realized two parking lots connected to each other would make an ideal location for a parking deck.

After the completion of this parking deck, when some people say that's not possible, and now we can see it, very tangible evidence of working together and uh and being committed to a vision.

Started pursuing this parking deck with a lot of effort.

I believe we can get it done.

I think ultimately there are compelling reasons why in the most condensely um or more densely populated area with so much traffic and uh Dayton Avenue educational complex for thousands with no parking created.

And we sometimes say, well, why teachers and go, well, there's also custodians and parents and support staff and parents and uh with houses of worship there and families and businesses.

The idea of just making structures without parking doesn't make sense, especially when we're arguing about snowstorms and streets and things of this nature.

So I want to give you a quick recap on the three million, and then finally, and this is just revisiting what uh councilman mayor has shared about the snow.

One of the other initiatives that we're looking towards, councilman is uh potentially signs during snowstorms, even though this one was unlike any that we had in 30 years of converting some of our streets into one ways when there's snow.

And we had a conversation briefly about that.

It's not something that we've seen, so we have to explore it a little more with engineers, but we've realized there are a number of streets where if we get a snowstorm like this one, actually, you know what?

This one was better than the one that came before the one that came before to give you some perspective.

We spent close to 200,000 in additional funding for snow removal because of the two weeks of temperature not over 30 degrees.

Yeah, it was extremely difficult for snow removal.

Here, uh, when you compare, we spend under $30,000 to remove the amount of snow.

And you saw the reaction of the community, you did a great job.

That doesn't always work out where you spend less and do more.

I understand, but because of the nature of the storm, the reason why I refer to that is because that first storm left certain streets unable to withstand two-way traffic.

So these are some of the measures that we're exploring, and I want to let you know beforehand, and obviously uh again as to what I was sharing with our assistant here to make note of it so that we will have that for you on record as part of our meetings for that when we revisit these policies or ordinances in order to address this, everyone can have the same point of reference.

That is the extent of any reports that I would give.

Any questions, of course?

If I may, yes, thank you for that.

Of course.

In terms of the money coming from Congressman Poe, that's obviously federal money.

That is we have any indications from the state, any indications whether that would include Senator Kim and Senator Booker.

So I submitted an application to Senator Booker as well as to Senator Kim.

Um they both shared it's the same administration up there, Washington hadn't changed from the first time that we requested the funding, but they will they will submit it.

They could provide us with more funding.

I want to give realistic expectations.

We're not getting 12 million dollars from now.

To complete this project would be about 15 million dollars.

If we can get an additional 4 million to 5 million, that'll get us a really long way.

We could possibly do half of the deck of the 400 spaces that I have presented in that town hall meeting.

It's been covered in the paper a number of times for the past year.

This particular parking deck.

The goal is to get over 400 spaces there in the Dayton Avenue complex.

Um, I think some of us who are into this stuff, we saw the governor uh publicly share that the state is facing some economic challenges.

That uh just a little bit, right?

Assembly when you're aware, and I believe there's a budget address that will occur Tuesday that where she may echo those sentiments or repeat them again.

We would hope that we can get funding, unless there's some private donor or we find uh another creative source, which will look under every rock possible.

We believe this parking initiative is extremely important for the downtown area.

I mean, it is the entrance and exit to Route 21.

Um, if you think we have parking issues in the other wards, uh, second ward and third ward when it snowed over there, it is horrendous.

I think all of you can attest to it as you receive the complaints.

Um, but the parking deck that we had here was of great benefit during the storm that people can park there in general.

But again, a school of that size to serve that many people.

And and I understand the SD, I called the SD directly at the time I was frustrated as mayor.

They were adamant they do not fund parking, even with our new high school.

It's been something that they've shared.

They will build the school, but they will not allow any of the funding to go for parking.

That is up to the municipalities to figure out how to accommodate.

So that is one of the challenges.

We get the benefits of the schools, they're wonderful.

But without the parking, they do become a bit of a burden.

And if and if you want to see it, just drive by there in the morning.

And the other thing is for the next three to four years, remember that the high school, while it was closed, redirected all of our students to the downtown area.

So not only is it some more density, it's become even worse now with parents and individuals leaving their vehicles there with nowhere to park.

Our teachers, Home Depot had recently decided the teachers can no longer use their parking road.

So it's been a real challenge down there.

I can attest to that and job off myself.

In that area, but um again to the point initially.

Um covered and the presentations have occurred here in the council mentioning it in my updates.

But I think when it comes to these applications, it is important that we can take an additional measure of uh including the council and letting them know when we're following up on these things because then we'll end up with the money and people go where where'd the money come from?

And uh why do we choose these uh these applications over others?

But we had uh agreed collectively that the parking issue was one of the priorities in the city as a whole, and that's why uh through my administration I've been directing not only uh that, but as many of you recall, updating the council every time we find uh space and turning it into a parking lot.

I actually presented it during the meeting where I presented all the parking lots to Jefferson one, the Brook Ave with the Maynav corner in that presentation of all those little parking lots that we converted on River Drive into additional public parking.

I had shared that we would be going after funding for the Parker Avenue parking deck, and uh hopefully we can get that much money.

But um okay, that's the extent.

Unless there's uh any other questions, that's it for yes, that's what I said earlier.

We applied again.

Yeah, we applied for this year because we we only have the three million.

We we keep the funding for about two years, but if we do not use it for that specific project, it goes back.

The city of Pasik has an amazing track record of using the funding that we receive.

We don't give money back, even that four million, we never gave it back.

It was actually given to us, and we were supposed to be able to use it, and there was a change of uh in case some of you heard of the administration, there was a different president.

So it was an election this year, and they started taking some of the money back and withholding some of the funds.

Councilman Moon, please.

Two questions.

So is there any uh data in terms of the parking deck here across the street?

Councilman, I'm sorry.

Yeah, I was just asking is there any data in terms of the um parking deck across the street, this new parking deck regarding occupancy?

How many cars are parked there average a day, a week?

Yes, we are generating that.

I mean, obviously, during the storm, we allowed for free parking.

So that would not be good data, and uh it's it's becoming more and more popular.

But we are looking to give you uh accurate data uh by June.

We want to make sure that we have a good sample of what we expect for the whole year.

But uh to the business administrator who needs our parking authority.

Do you have uh numbers that you can share now?

Uh no, off the top of my head.

Um, I do not have those numbers, but like the mayor said, it's extremely popular, it's been extremely helpful.

Uh, we did our first uh set of parking passes with the new retro that's not retro fitness.

What is it?

Planet fitness.

I they're confused all the gyms.

Uh that's how often I go, right?

From retro fitness to planet from retro fitness to planet fitness.

Um, they they went ahead and bought over three thousand dollars worth of passes to give to their uh clientele that they pay two hours in advance, so that they when you go work out there, they'll give you the sticker, you can go in and out of the deck.

So we're we're not just relying on the people that are parking just paying coming in now.

We've also done the passes, and we're in the process of negotiating with the supermarket who's also interested in doing the same thing across.

So those are things I know off the top of my head.

Uh obviously, I would have to run the reports, the daily report, so you get an idea.

But like the mayor said, running them for the next two weeks.

I mean, the gates were open.

We were we're like, please get off of the street, go on to the deck so we can clean the street.

We're looking at revenue, which is the easiest way for us to keep track of them.

Um, this was difficult season because we have that extended holiday where we do the the two weeks before Christmas, all the way up to three kings, which is January 6th, and then immediately leaving out of January, we started going into the storm so everyone can go in for free.

We know it's much more popular overnight because it's free overnight for residents.

So we know that outside there's an indicator that tells you whenever the lots are full.

So we are generating that, but uh councilman, is there a specific number that you're looking for?

Are you looking for revenue?

Are you looking for in terms of occupancy?

Um how many spots are in the three or nine, but to be accurate during the daytime, there's a number that's reserved for employees who uh also have to contribute.

I'm curious if we were consistently of 30 percent, 50 percent, 80 percent.

Just curious what you know, we're you know, in terms of like there's I'm well, I really it's just a segue into my next question, and that is but maybe you talk you you talk about uh Dayton Avenue or parking deck of 450 cars.

What's the side?

What's the science of 450 as opposed to 550 or 350?

Is there any type of study that was done in terms of what the demand is?

And the reason I'm asking is maybe we don't need 15 million, maybe 250 is enough for that market area, and we can do it for 8 million, and maybe possibly we should do smaller decks in different parts of the city to take some of the pressure off many of the different retail areas we're having instead of trying to do 450 in one spot, try to pick that up again.

Depends on what the demand is.

I don't know if there is a study that will give you some of those numbers.

So, yes, there is a study.

That's why I had alluded to or talked about my capstone project.

I had to present the traffic study in the area, and uh obviously uh the usage, the residence and the permits right now.

The church lot actually provides parking to residents overnight.

Um they would have a specific need to maintain some of the parking for their congregation.

But how do how do we come up with 450 or 410 or 310?

Um logistically, we look at the size and what's possible.

Look at the maximum amount of parking that can go into a deck.

Once we get that number, we get how much it would cost, and then we put in an application.

Considering now the federal government, and it's it was similar prior, where you only get two projects up to four million dollars, and the likelihood that they're gonna fund both projects is uh is very low, zero.

You get one in project.

So we try to identify how much can we get and how much can we do at one time, understanding how well forget me how fickle uh representatives and legislators can be sometimes they can be excited about a project in the beginning and then later decide this isn't the most popular project for us to get behind.

So we can get the 15 million after they check out the measurements, just if it's possible to put the maximum there, that's what we apply for.

Um the the practicality of us saying we're gonna apply for 10 different lots for 10 different sources, we're not gonna get funded for them.

Basically, funding works like that.

You you put in one or two applications a year, and you typically get one big one.

Right.

So if if the gosh, please yeah, just uh before you go, because I don't want to move out to the next topic, is there's there's also a trigger point uh where a the cost for the foundation of the deck, it's actually cheaper as you go up, right?

So a two-story deck may cost you almost the same as if you built the third story because all your you've already set up so that the sweet spot, like the mayor is saying, you're somewhere in the size of next door, which is about four to five stories, and when you run the four to five stories to get you a reasonable cost per parking space, because that's another thing.

Um this area kind of gave us that number, right?

So when you do the four, four and a half, four or five stories based on the the you know, roughly thirty, five, forty thousand per spot to get you up to that spot, um it it led you to the four five-story building because in a parking deck, it's not financially uh recommended to do of that size just to do like two stories because you just spend all your money on the two stories where the price of the of the next two stories, right?

Significantly reduced the cost of the the space, even though I get what you're saying, you only got eight million dollars, just do the two stories.

Um, but I'm saying from a from a dollar standpoint, you want to build the extra story because that reduces your spot, your your cost per spot significant.

I mean, just going from like a second story to a third story significantly drops the cost of the spot.

Right.

But it if you don't need those extra parking spots, so really the we the parking spots that you do need are gonna cost you that amount anyway, if not more, because you don't need the fourth floor, the fifth floor.

And let's say part we're seeing the example, let's say down in Dayton, you only need 250 spots, right?

True.

So you're right, it's it's um it's cheaper, right?

But if you go to say to the government says instead of us 15, all the way in is nine.

Do we have a better shot?

That's all we really need in that area.

Do we have a better shot next year of getting another seven, eight as opposed to if we ask for 15?

Well, we only need 15.

That the next two years we're out of the game, and we can't we don't have the opportunity to build something in other areas of the town.

That's all that's understood.

It's a fair point.

It's a fair point, though.

I would argue there's definitely a need in that area, considering the Dayton Avenue complex alone itself justifies 250 by itself.

But the the homes in the area and the lack of parking there, including the additional schools, not just our public schools, but the additional charter schools that have gone in the area, the distribution centers, the increase of traffic uh by uh some of our properties, whether factory 220, the restaurants, there's a lot of justification and compelling arguments to be made for that's why I'm curious also to see.

I guess obviously, uh you know, a full year of data will give you a better handle what's going on.

Yeah, parking deck across the street.

That's why I wonder what 60 percent or is really 85 percent full to give us okay.

What are what are our true needs?

But every section is not made the same.

Understood.

So I uh one would argue, especially in that area where the majority of housing does not have driveways, so these are two, three families, four families with pre-existing.

I mean, we're talking about old building, none of them have any driveways, and then you and this is what the mayor's trying to say.

You compound the fact with you know, not hundreds, but like thousands of people moving in and out of that area.

Um the need, yeah, I would argue is if not more than what the deck across the street is from a residential standpoint, where this is more a mix of residential overnight, commuters during the day, and and visitors to the downtown area, right?

So it's as well as when you consider and connecting these additional services like our free shuttle that goes right by there, and the idea of individuals just leaving their cars in the parking that can go in the shop in our market street in our downtown area, right?

Right understood, but especially um well, you mentioned about the the different needs, like residential parking as shoppers as well, or teachers again, it's different hours, right?

So if the need is 450 in the area, but at any given time, you only might need 300 because there's day users and night users.

Why spend the money and and and put it somewhere else and put it put a smaller deck, put a hundred lot that's a great point.

If we could get the money for somewhere else, so that that's what goes back to the grant application.

The way that the grants are set up, you present one application.

I mean, think about the involved conversation we're having about this one project.

When it comes to state funding and the federal funding, we can sit here and have opinions and end up with eight different projects that people think are worthy of the applications.

But the reality is that the state will pick one or two, or the federal government will pick one.

We try to do our best to find out which one would have the biggest impact on the city as a whole.

We've been really creative.

I go back to grabbing little parking uh lots, taking a piece of grass and a park that is unused and saying let's convert that and create 50 spaces.

Let's do that with 30 spaces here, another 30 spaces in uh on Third Street.

But when it comes to genuinely addressing the issues of parking, we're limited with the options, right?

Like the business administrator said very few homes downtown have driveways.

The idea that we're gonna convince people to have less cars, we listen.

We don't have a lot of space that belongs to the city, we can't grab it.

So we have very few parking areas that we can actually do a lot for.

If we only have two or three, we want to maximize that and say we can get 450 parking, considering the trend of increase of cars, we're not building a parking deck for data today.

We're building a parking deck for what the city's gonna look like 10 years from now, 15 years from now.

So even if it doesn't justify completely today, we see the trend of the parking need grow every single year.

Because of that, we try to prepare for that.

That's why we look at more spaces than less with the money available.

They give us 15 million, great.

If we end up getting 7 million, we'll pursue 250 spaces.

But I think to the to the business administrators pointing that, look, there are engineers and obviously financial experts that can explain it in better detail.

But if they're going the foundation is the biggest cost, and that costs us the six million, and then since it's mostly pre-fab, the rest is just putting it on top.

If we get seven million and spend six on just the foundation and one or two levels, it's only gonna cost us an additional three for every other level, then it just makes sense for us to go for as much as possible in there.

Councilwoman comes in, yes.

Yes, I'm not gonna be speak about parking.

Yes, there is we need a lot of parking downtown.

But um my concern with the snow.

First of all, everyone did a great job.

You always have one or two that's gonna complain, but our city did a great job, and I was proud to be part of this city when that was happening.

I was watching the mayor, I was watching everything going on.

I also watch when uh the DPW truck caught on fire.

Yes.

So my concern is are the trucks gonna be able to handle another snowstorm, not this year, hopefully, but that kind that is a great question, councilwoman, and I think that it gives us an opportunity to have a very real conversation with residents.

I think it's important because most of us get uh on hand education as it's going on, right?

When you have an uh a DPW coming in for 12 hours, they take a break, and then at the end of their shift, somebody else comes in and covers them.

The problem is that then after those 12 hours, someone else covers them.

Between those three people that have done 36 hours, they've probably gotten about two hours each worth of a break.

The vehicle doesn't get a break.

The person who comes in to relieve the driver of that plow of that vehicle takes that same vehicle.

So that vehicle may have been turned off for the two hours that you went to lunch.

Hopefully, you weren't idling or someone didn't switch it in those two hours.

And for the 15 to 20 minutes it takes to change the shifts.

So some of our vehicles were working since Sunday when the storm started, all the way to Wednesday, with maybe two to three hours where it's been turned off.

This one, the hydraulic lock.

Uh that's what actually caused the combustion, the fire inside diesel truck, and the mechanic try to explain it the best he could to meet that it expands and retracts and expands and retracts in over a period of time with overheating, explodes, and then all that liquid is flammable, and that's what occurred.

Thank God our driver got out, and there was nobody for it.

We don't have a fleet vehicles to tell people, all right.

Let's put these 12 trucks away, and these next 12 drivers that come in, grab the other 12 trucks.

Trucks range between 150,000, and some can go up to over 200,000.

That's what we have in-house mechanics.

They basically do the quick fix, put it back out on the road.

But not when loose, we need a replacement part.

It's really based on money.

Grants are a far and few in between, and very few are available for DPW trucks.

We have better chances of getting grants for a fire truck, an apparatus, or police vehicles.

You would think that there would be more funding for DPW trucks.

The truth is, and this is just the reality of the situation, it may snow 10 days out of the year, 10 days out of the year.

That means the other 355 days out of the year, no one's thinking about snow.

That's not a pretty bad winter.

At best, at best, we have gotten maybe two or three life flurries.

At worst, we got what we got this year.

But that's why you heard everyone say every 30 years or every five to six years with the ice storm that we got, the frigid temperatures.

As to your question, do we have enough vehicles right now to withstand another storm like this?

No, you know, we don't have enough vehicles or enough salt.

In this particular storm, we had to borrow salt and pay it back.

We had to go to some of our sources in the county and elsewhere to get salt.

We've had to employ vendors and contractors to help us with their trucks, and some of their trucks, even were saying we've overused them during your storm.

It is very difficult.

It is a challenge that we face, but not alone.

All the municipalities are facing similar challenges.

The reason why I was adamant to share that information is perhaps to give some caution to other municipalities and drivers of what to do when this will happen again.

But that's to your point.

It is difficult.

We try our best to uh rotate our vehicles, but with limited vehicles and more and more residents.

What street do we sacrifice?

What area do we say we're giving the trucks a rest for eight hours and then we'll get you guys later?

We don't have too many of those opportunities.

Thank you.

Councilman uh please.

Yeah.

You're discussing giving back funds to the federal government.

Just that was there any anything going on with the Van Houten Lackawana pump station or the funds funds weren't given back.

Let me let me qualify.

We did not give back funds.

We applied to use the funds.

The federal government after the transition of a new congressman decided that we cannot use those funds or limited how we could use the funds, and we try to explain to them uh our project, the federal government said no.

And we try to explain to them our project, the federal government said no.

But you can apply again.

And we did to keep those funds.

And they said no, but we'll give you we'll give you three, but we'll take back four, we'll give you three.

That's sort of what occurs.

And the lot that that pump station we're we're that but we're those funds are safe.

Yes.

We have we do not get back funds.

The city of Pasik has not given back funds.

Those four million dollars were that was a unique situation, but we were able to complete our parking deck here, and we wanted to use the four million dollars to move forward with additional parking, and the federal government said it up.

They said you you could use it here, but to councilman Monk's point, we weren't gonna put two or three more levels on top of this parking deck because one, it wasn't necessary, and uh I don't think logistically it would have worked.

So they did not allow us to use it for but we fought to keep it.

We actually put in multiple requests through uh through the new Congress uh representative, Melly Poe, through the Senator, and I will share with you because I had the opportunity to be on a Zoom call directly with uh with Speaker Pelosi on a different matter, reached out to her directly to ask, and uh from everyone we were told they were not gonna allow us to use the four million that uh you see the check on the second floor.

It came in with Congressman Pascal.

They were adamant, they they put so many restrictions on what we could use it for, just there was nothing reasonable that we could do with it.

Thank you.

Is there any value to discuss opening up the parking deck to include commercial to include anything like that?

That's a good yes, we're doing that.

We're uh creating an opportunity for commercial vehicles up to a certain size because there are weight restrictions, and obviously they must be able to fit into the parking space to uh to use our parking deck.

What we're exploring is the fees, whether it's fair to charge them the same fee as a residential vehicle since they are making money off the commercial vehicle.

But we we have moved forward on presenting an ordinance that would allow or rather a policy that would allow for commercial vehicles if they pay, it's just figuring out how we would charge them more.

Okay.

You know, bringing in unions, groups like that is that within the for the building of the parking there.

If any way we could get it in that would yield cash back, yes.

Of course.

Look, it's it's always our goal to work with um with unions.

They've been great partners with us, and wherever we can do it within reason.

I mean, our ultimate obligation is to the residents, and as much as we want to partner with different organizations and agencies, at the end of the day, we serve the public.

So if we can get a parking deck done with obvious partnerships where the money makes sense, great.

But I'll I'll be very candid.

My goal is to maximize the opportunities of creating more spaces and spend as little as possible because we don't have a lot of hopes of getting more money.

So if we can get 20 million dollars from the state, we'll work with whoever the recommended group is.

If we can get up to 20 million dollars, we'll get we'll get amazing parking deck doc.

Um, if we get eight million dollars, then it's us on what we can do in that area.

Um curious also, forgive me on uh yeah, on that other level that you just alluded to, if it's possible that we bring in some of our friends over the years and get them to understand just how fundamentally important this uh the deck is.

Yes, definitely, and maybe the the press that we have for funding could go hand in hand with requests of other groups to put us on a better plan.

Definitely that would be most appreciative.

Um we we've reached out obviously to all the representatives that we have, but being able to get as many of them together or or reach out with uh with a collective voice.

Like this is a very needed project in that area, and getting that done will make a big difference for our community.

I know that the say a county and related uh legislators are planning to make one of the topics, obviously, is funding.

Yes, well, certainly the only agenda.

Yeah, sometimes I I will share that the the interest rates on particular funding opportunities with the county uh are not necessarily comparable dollars.

We we actually get a pretty good rate.

I was as you know, the standing through your many years of council and through this collective bodies responsible governing, we have a pretty good rating, and the interest that we look to is sometimes better than the county.

There's there's no doubt, and frankly, the benefit that the county would receive by underwriting the bonds versus having it done somewhere else is not consequential.

Uh but is consequential is if if some of our neighboring municipalities, especially the larger ones like Patterson, are going to get you know a lot of aid and support as they should.

Yeah, um, then that certainly would speak well of us as well.

Understood.

Okay.

Additional other questions for the mayor.

Thank you, sir.

Thank you for this uh very enlightening.

Um there's nothing else that I have on the agenda.

Anything uh from anyone saying none, move to close.

There's a motion to adjourn.

Is there a second to adjourn, please?

Second motion and second to adjourn.

Rock call, councilman monk, yes, councilwoman Mello, yes, councilman mayor, yes, councilman Garcia, yes, councilwoman Colombon Tannez, yes, and Council President Sheer.

Yes, meeting is adjourned.

Thank you.