City Council

SEPTEMBER 5, 2019 REGULAR MEETING OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEW BRUNSWICK HELD ON SEPTEMBER 5, 2019 AT 6:30 P.M. IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT Please be advised that the notice requirements of the Open Public Meeting Act have been complied with and satisfied in the that the annual notice which gave sufficient notice of the time, place and conduct of all public meetings of the Municipal Council of the City of New Brunswick, has been filed by the City Clerk, has been placed on an appropriate bulletin board in the lobby of the City Hall, New Brunswick, New Jersey, and has been transmitted to the official Newspaper for the City of New Brunswick, namely the Home News Tribune; as provided in a resolution adopted by this governing body. Salute to the Flag....................................................................Shalon T. Bennett Pause for a moment to honor those American, Iraqis, and Afghanis who have lost their lives in this current conflict. Staff in attendance: Deputy City Clerk Shalon T Bennett Mayor’s Office Ryan Berger Public Information Officer Bert Baron Acting Planning Director Daniel Dominguez Assistant City Administrator Michael Drulis Water Utility Eric Kouao Ekoue Social Services Director Melanie Daniels Ford Assistant City Attorney Joseph J. Catanese Assistant City Administrator Brandon Goldberg Police Sgt. Scott Gould Purchasing Agent Marie James New Brunswick Parking Authority Antoine Johnson Chief of Staff Keith Jones Zoning Department Tina McCaskill Police Capt. JT Miller Fire Director Robert Rawls City Attorney TK Shamy Fire Dept Cheryl Smith Fire Department Chris Stellatella City Administrator Daniel A. Torrisi Director of Public Works/ Engineering Thomas Valenti Water Director Alexei Walus Water Utility Willie Weaver City Clerk Leslie Zeledón On motion of Council Member Egan, seconded by Council Member Fleming and carried, the minutes of the previous Council Meetings held on August 7, 2019 were approved and adopted as engrossed. Meeting called to order by Council President Anderson with Council Members Egan, Escobar, Fleming, Sicora Ludwig present.  PUBLIC HEARING O-081905 AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND AND SUPPLEMENT THE AS REVISED GENERAL ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF NEW AMENDED BRUNSWICK, TITLE 12, STREETS, SIDEWALKS AND BY PUBLIC PLACES, CHAPTER 12.28 – PARKS AND R-O-081905-1 PLAYGROUNDS ADD: WELTON STREET PARK Council President Anderson opened the Public Hearing on the above ordinance. Public Comment: None On a motion of Council Member Egan, seconded by Council Member Fleming, and carried, the above ordinance was adopted on Final Reading on September 5, 2019. Roll Call: Aye: Egan, Escobar, Fleming, Sicora Ludwig, Anderson Nay: Abstain: Motion carried. O-081906 AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND AND SUPPLEMENT THE REVISED GENERAL ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF NEW BRUNSWICK, TITLE 12, STREETS, SIDEWALKS AND PUBLIC PLACES RE: ABANDONED, WRECKED AND REPAIR OF VEHICLES ON STREETS Council President Anderson opened the Public Hearing on the above ordinance. Public Comment: Mr. Kratovil and Ms. Moore inquired about the ordinance. CP Anderson and Mr. Shamy responded. On a motion of Council Member Egan, seconded by Council Member Fleming, and carried, the above ordinance was adopted on Final Reading on September 5, 2019. Roll Call: Aye: Egan, Escobar, Fleming, Sicora Ludwig, Anderson Nay: Abstain: Motion carried. O-081907 AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND AND SUPPLEMENT THE REVISED GENERAL ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF NEW BRUNSWICK, TITLE 16, LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE UPDATE: MINOR SITE PLAN LANGUAGE & CRITERIA AND ESCROW DEPOSIT SCHEDULE Council President Anderson opened the Public Hearing on the above ordinance. Public Comment: None On a motion of Council Member Escobar, seconded by Council Member Fleming, and carried, the above ordinance was adopted on Final Reading on September 5, 2019. Roll Call: Aye: Egan, Escobar, Fleming, Sicora Ludwig, Anderson Nay: Abstain: Motion carried.  0-081908 AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND AND SUPPLEMENT THE REVISED GENERAL ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF NEW BRUNSWICK, TITLE 17, ZONING UPDATE: ZONING PERMIT FEE SCHEDULE Council President Anderson opened the Public Hearing on the above ordinance. Public Comment: None On a motion of Council Member Fleming, seconded by Council Member Escobar, and carried, the above ordinance was adopted on Final Reading on September 5, 2019. Roll Call: Aye: Egan, Escobar, Fleming, Sicora Ludwig, Anderson Nay: Abstain: Motion carried. O-081909 ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF NEW BRUNSWICK, IN THE COUNTY OF MIDDLESEX, STATE OF NEW JERSEY, APPROVING THE APPLICATION FOR A LONG TERM TAX EXEMPTION AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF NEW BRUNSWICK TO ENTER INTO A FINANCIAL AGREEMENT WITH STIRLINGSIDE URBAN RENEWAL, LLC AND GRANTING A TAX EXEMPTION RE: 50 NEILSEN STREET AND 45 HASSART STREET, BLOCK 121, LOTS 1.01 AND 1.02 Council President Anderson opened the Public Hearing on the above ordinance. Public Comment: Mr. Kratovil inquired on the Ordinance. Mr. Dominguez pointed out there was an error in the language of the ordinance. Mr. Shamy said due to the error, the ordinance would need to be amended and re-published for public hearing at a later date. Attorney for Stirlingside Urban Renewal, LLC Jong Suk Nee mentioned there is a financial deadline of September 12th in order to receive credits for the project. Ms. Nee asked if a Special Meeting can take place prior to September 18th due to the HMFA deadline. R-O-081909-1 ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF NEW BRUNSWICK, IN THE TO AMEND COUNTY OF MIDDLESEX, STATE OF NEW JERSEY, O-081909 APPROVING THE APPLICATION FOR A LONG TERM TAX EXEMPTION AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF NEW BRUNSWICK TO ENTER INTO A FINANCIAL AGREEMENT WITH STIRLINGSIDE URBAN RENEWAL, LLC AND GRANTING A TAX EXEMPTION RE: 50 NEILSEN STREET AND 45 HASSART STREET, BLOCK 121, LOTS 1.01 AND 1.02 Public Comment: Ms. Nee asked if a Special Meeting can take place prior to September 18th due to the HMFA deadline. Karuna Mehta of Stirlingside Urban Renewal, LLC. Mentioned the deadline would be September 12th. Mr. Shamy discussed with the Council on the possibilities, if there is time for publishing a 48-hour notice for a special meeting and re-advertising the ordinance. Mr. Kratovil was in support of a special meeting. Resolution R-O-081901-1 to amend O-081909, moved by Council Member Egan, seconded by Council Member Fleming and carried were adopted, on consent, by the Municipal Council. Roll Call: Aye: Egan, Escobar, Fleming, Sicora Ludwig, Anderson Nay: Abstain: Motion carried.  O-081909 AS ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF NEW BRUNSWICK, IN THE AMENDED COUNTY OF MIDDLESEX, STATE OF NEW JERSEY, BY R-O- APPROVING THE APPLICATION FOR A LONG TERM TAX 081909-1 EXEMPTION AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF NEW BRUNSWICK TO ENTER INTO A FINANCIAL AGREEMENT WITH STIRLINGSIDE URBAN RENEWAL, LLC AND GRANTING A TAX EXEMPTION RE: 50 NEILSEN STREET AND 45 HASSART STREET, BLOCK 121, LOTS 1.01 AND 1.02 On a motion of Council Member Egan, seconded by Council Member Fleming, and carried, the above ordinance was carried to a Special Meeting for Public Hearing on September 12 at 9:00 A.M.. in the Council Chambers in City Hall. . Roll Call: Aye: Egan, Escobar, Fleming, Sicora Ludwig, Anderson Nay: Abstain: Motion carried. INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCES O-091901 AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND AND SUPPLEMENT THE REVISED GENERAL ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF NEW BRUNSWICK, TITLE 10, VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC, STOPPING, STANDING OR PARKING, SECTION 10.16.210 – SCHEDULE 38, “TIME LIMIT PARKING AREAS” AND SECTION 10.16.050 – SCHEDULE 29, “TIME LIMIT PARKING – PARKING METERS” RE: KIRKPATRICK STREET On a motion of Council Member Sicora, seconded by Council Member Egan, and carried, the above ordinance was adopted on first reading and held over for Public Hearing on September 18 at 6:30P.M. in the Council Chambers in City Hall. Roll Call: Aye: Egan, Escobar, Fleming, Sicora Ludwig, Anderson Nay: Abstain: Motion carried. COMMUNICATIONS 1. A letter from Bristol-Myers Squibb regarding an ongoing environmental investigation and remediation at 1 Squibb Drive. 2. A letter from JJJ Associates Inc. regarding a flood hazard area individual permit for 253 French Street. 3. A Public Notice from PSE&G regarding Basic Generation Service charges. 4. A letter from NJDEP regarding a Hazardous Substance Discharge notification. 5. A letter from PARS Environmental Inc. regarding a remedial action report and site remediation program for 55 US Highway 1.  6. A letter from Menlo Engineering Associates regarding a Flood Hazard Area Permit Application for 30 Charles Street. 7. A letter from NJDEP regarding a ground water remedial action permit for 187 French Street. RESOLUTIONS Public Comment: Mr. Kratovil inquired about resolution R-091920. Mr. Dominguez responded. Jessica Fortney spoke on behalf of Rutgers University Landscape Architectural Club regarding R- 091912. Resolutions R-091901 through R-091920, moved by Council Member Egan, seconded by Council Member Fleming and carried were adopted, on consent, by the Municipal Council. Roll Call: Aye: Egan, Escobar, Fleming, Sicora Ludwig, Anderson Nay: Abstain: Motion carried.  NEW BUSINESS CP Anderson mentioned the Opening of the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center (NBPAC), welcomed back the Rutgers University students. CM Fleming welcomed the public-school students, CP Anderson coincided. CM Egan spoke on the opening of P-Tech on Jersey Avenue. Mr. Shamy spoke in regards to the crane incident and permit that was granted by the City. Mr. Shamy said the paperwork was in order and signed by the designee of the Engineering Department, the only thing discovered prior to the second crane permit was a nonpayment for the renewal of the first, which was then paid for by the crane company, at the time of the application. Mr. Kratovil spoke in regards to Mr. Shamy’s comments and the investigation. He asked the council to revise the crane ordinance. Mr. Kratovil asked about the Emergency Management and the old Saint Peter’s School proposed future. Danielle Moore of 333 Somerset Street thanked the Council President for helping with the handicap parking at Laurel Place, spoke in regards to a stop sign, fire hydrants, hanging wires, and the cleaning of streets. Director Rawls, CP Anderson, CM Egan and CM Escobar responded. On a motion regularly made, seconded and carried, the meeting adjourned at 7:34 P.M. Leslie R. Zeledón John Anderson City Clerk Council President