Blizzard of 2010 Post-Mortem
Fails to Mention Emergency Management Plan
Accolades & Recriminations Fly
iStar Financial Disagrees with City Position on its Default
Council Passes Quarter of a Million Dollar Legal Offense Fee
Temporary Budget Passed (numbers TK)
AP City Council Meeting 1/5/11
Welcome to AsburyRadio's Reporters' Notebook - corrections, spellings, clarifications invited. AsburyRadio@aol.com
All Council members present: Sue Henderson, Deputy Mayor John Loffredo, Mayor Ed Johnson, form mayor Kevin Sanders, former deputy mayor James Bruno
Workshop –
Reps from big Sisters Big Bros/ need mentors, who must be 18 yrs or over, need office space 1800 SF, 91c of every dollar donated goes to programs.
James Famularo – applicant for atm machine for transportation center, PNC bank rep at table w/ JM before council.
Also discussing putting one along beachfront…any other locations?
Mayor Johnson – I know been a long wait for us to be able to accept credit cards here in the city.
City mgr TReidy – we put out req for proposals and then come back w/ best for us/ more operational issue/ supposed to meet with them this Friday/ cd be resolved at that mtr/
FM – something about Swan boats on Wesley Lake
.
EJ – what kind of fees?
FM – every transaction, what was it…surcharge $2.50
EJ – don’t want to charge people $5 fee/ seen look on people’s faces when they do that.
EJ – reads proclamation of AP – ref lives of children…big bros big sis, helping to …competent competent children…mentoring programs… more likely to graduate high school/ city promises to frame / app goes to interview…hugs reps from
Tonight w/ Reverse procedures – public mtg w/ start at 7 pm tonight,
then public participation after they discuss snow w/ staff, then private session
Public Meeting –
Budget current fund for 3 mos. - $5 million 400k///beach $30k salaries and wages/ …incomplete…first mtg of every yr state statute adopt …26 /14% of adopted budget of prev yr. so muni can continue business until official budget is adopted/
Community bnk of Asbury park is actually Rumson Fairhaven bank.
PNC Bank, Sovereign and other banks are to be used by AP
Interest and delinquent property tax fees – way too fast to catch
Delinquent check fee
Public hearings on ords’
Salary for zoning officer parttime/ omnibus driver – sen citizen bus driver/ diff finding competent bus driver/ mks this fu/time pos to get someone reliable etc. at this for yrs. Trying to get/
Zoning ord wd lower salary range/ currently asst planner and zoning officer/ so no add’l $ for zoning officer duties/ was on bks at much higher rate – went from 25 to 55/ now it’s part-time for $4k, doesn’t eliminate the title.
Wd use the pos for other driving opportunities/ our exp is that there’s a need for a f/time driver/ p/time pos isn’t wkg/ seniors can’t go where wnt to go/ that person w/ be paid according to what do and w/ find duties if no plc to drive/ only one public member asked q’s – Rita Marano – all yes
Allows PBd to hire someone for sound mitigation analysis, when a business application requires sound analysis is req’d/ this wd change ordinance which now assumes sound analysis is needed. So if not a live music venue they the subcommittee of the PBd would decide if need sound analysis.
All in favor to adopt ord– all aye
Bond Ordinance – moved to next mtg
Blizzard Post-Mortem – Brian Grant and Bob B. go to address council and mayor motions for them to trun and face the audience, (rarely done).
TR – lot of lessons learned during this period. Another stm coming in this fri. some of lessons w/ be applied in next storm. [Reidy is the emergency management officer for AP]
This was the largest, fastest mg storm dumped more snow in this are than 1947. every storm has its own personality/ came in steady, sun am 11 am, gale force winds by night/ what did we know as a state and when did we know it/ predictions of snow on Christmas eve but not that it was a blizzard. Fact it hit day after Christmas, none of this is by way of excuses/ think job done was phenomenal, knew early on that we were on our own/ state abandoned vehicles in AP and got stuck…didn’t do anything for 3 days/ county had own challenges, multiple aban veh, tow trucks abandoned veh/ if wanted to come out wdn’t hv been able to/ Crime was down… Babies born, one del by firefighter Anastasia/ 3.5 hrs to get ambulance from 4th av and grand to hospital, baby born in hosp/ Santander residents put people up for days…
Started as a rescue mission/ henry vaccaro was stuck in Eatontown, cdn’t get equipment bak in ap til Wednes. His eqpt was commandeered by Eatontown police to plow there/
Brian Grant – 24 – 30” in fall, drifts up to 7 --8 feet. Robert (Bob B.) was dudoing the emerg response.
Bob – this was actually the perfect storm at the worst pos time, holidays, materialized to mega storm/ when he lft toms river 12” to 20” I showed up at 10:15 in AM, had 4 guys out for 2 – 3 hrs/ w/in that time streets impassible , then it became a plowing mission/ pedestrians walking ar’d, first day had control in cbd, had drivable in cbd, few hrs later totally impassible, bad to wrse in such short perod of time/ saw cars there, 2 hrs later buried/ had to poke w/ stick to see if there.
10 pm Sunday night, new Holland frontend loader used 90% of time to pull own eqp’t out/ anyone who called called them directly, we got caught bad as anybody in state/ stuck by HS loader got stuck/ Brian was in Atlanta, communicating by phone, cars abandoned throughout the city…no way cd attack snow storm/ no plc to put snow/ for am’t of sno not right am’t of equpt, no one has that much eq’t/ tried to do everything cd/ jprob no way of getting ar’d it/ luckily did hav loader/ we had one comfort, contractor in town lent hvy eqpt, so when reality came we started to clear/ when we got one lane, people started pkg behind / know lot of people were frustrated so was i. When get storm of that magnitude/ All commun in wld we trying to do/ we tk garbage trks out for dep mayor loffredo’s hse, cdn’t get it out of there and this was 2 or 3 days later.
Brian – we hav manpower…only equip’t approp we had was loader/ we lost use of it for 3 hrs, when needed for emergency rescue operation/ we got low on salt/ for a 30” snowfall we didn’t hv what needed/ some of shift wkrs put in 28 hrs, that was bob, others cdn’t get into area/ given resources we had staff did a great job in the beginning/ it’s not a simple plowing operation, our plan calls for stepping back,/ mass and velocity, once u lose your velocity it impedes the effort/ when u plow someone in, people were pushing snow back into street to dig selves out/ then tried to do curb to curb/ we’re physically removing snow, never did so before, into lakes and ocean/ some idea how prioritize snow removal/ I got bk Wednesday/ I was on the street driving vehicles/ we prioritize by supporting on Springwd ave and cookman ave/ Ridge, Bangs and Prospect, Third Ave on Sat. and Sunday/ moving snow from ar’d schools, coord w/ Bd of Ed/ that was fri, sat, sun.
Next, on Monday, code red, started on main avenues, cont’d on ridge av/ projgress on main and Asbury av/ w/ be removing sknow on state hiways/ left for end bez not city jurisdiction/ 6” storm usually mov to side and move on w/ your business. Snding up another cde red message for public to adhere to alternate side/ don’t have snow removal rules/signs in plc yet/ Are we overwhelmed, we said yeah/ Duane Small called to volunteer I said yes. We looked at a contractor recommended by Councilman Kevin Sanders, who had cleared Jersey City in 48 hrs /turned out he wanted $7000/hr/ 50 – 60 hrs or $280,000 to $350,000 to cln up the city – we didn’t hv that kind of money
So asking in this next phase for people to move cars off streets while we clear them.
We need to hv emerg contracts in place/ vaccaro was ad hoc basis/ contractors we reached out to had obligations to other towns/ cedn’t mobilize equip’t until Wedn. Rode red system lot of good feedback/ voice mail filled up every 2 hrs/ was lack of information / really hv to leverage that code red system to constantly communicate/ but really our job was to communicate better/ residents have a role clng strs sooner than later/ try not to clr too soon/ so not constantly digging out/ try not to pk in travel lanes because that impedes/ this is what we’re lkg for from u to mk this / it’s a geam approach, rly need cars off streets, fstr we can serve the public/
w/ be communicating about this much more/ now we’ll mobilize on that day shift to really communicate beter than done in past/
TReidy –
Wnt to tk a few seconds to mention heroics that went on…so mny lifesaving efforts going on in those initial days/ 48 dalysis pats in this little city. Emergency rescue – front end loader used majority of time in life saving/ we said no lives wd be lost bez stranded in need of medical help/ pub wks, fire and police never seen better teamwk/
EJ – jst wnt to say there are a lot of lessons to be learned, we don’t hv lux another storm coming thurs, fri Saturday, crews wkg overtime, to try to lrn those lessons and qkly befor…one of mny lessons lrn’d this wk/ dedication of crews …some left families on Christmas knowing there was storm brewing, some walked from Asbury circle in chest deep snow/ out on st mon, tues, our men and women never gave a thought to giving up…lot of things wnt to do better, need to do better…we need to listen to your input on you experiences and what we can do to be better prepared.
Jim Henry – 6th Ave
We were one of people w/ medical emergency/ called terry 5:15 Monday moring, Robert called out his f/end loader, chf keddy had a truck out for emerg run to hospital/ I was appalled conditions bet here and hosp can’t bel state didn’t do a better job/ we had a 4 wheel vehicle and kept having to turn ar’d …storm of 47 not as bad as this storm/ sometimes not equipped, thnk u guys did a gd job, lot of problms people who jst don’t use their heads/ appreciate
Amy quinn – Santander
Lot of probs w/ storm u had no control over, poli fire dpw did grt job on
\I called DPW don’t know how many times/ if there was a thoroughfare to get out. There was woman in Santander husband was diabetic, family wanted to pick up/ we didn’t even know which
TR = city does have emerg management routes but cdn’t get word out to citzens
Jack – Asbury Tower – don’t know where to put cars. There’s a church in neighborhood one of recom brian made, on that blk alone on any given day…bug empty pkg lot in church/ it wd take city to mk arrangementw w/ the churches/
EJ – we do hope to hv those in place so next time can move them…
Rita Marano – one of things think u shd do and want to come bef planning bd, apts w/ inadequate # of spots. Every car has to have a pkg space/ cookman has pkg lot but charges tenants to pk there. When we come before and complain we’re trying to head off these. Think they did a good job for what they did, but hav to control the pkg on the street.
Dr charles e Mitchell sr., dewitt ave/
Like to address pertinent situation, church located at dead end part of dewitt, sort of problem re plowing in that area/ residents, even homeowners can’t pk anywhere else/ still mounds of snow, 15ft pile of snow and debris right next to marquee w/ my name on it.
It is quite large and menacing. Bible says spk to the mtn we hve and it has not moved.
Myra Campbell –
What is plan fining absentee landlords or abandoned houses not cleared their houses/ What about people who have cell phones re. code red calls/ Monroe Ave no removal at all on one area.
TR – code enforcement…bal we’re trying to achieve myra, don’t wnt to go after people even when can, when you’re tlkg absentee lanld def right/ but wnt be sensitive to people who may not be able to shovel, we’ve reached out to youth corp/ we do wnt to put people on notice/
MC – we hv same prob not jst snow removal but people who don’t cut grass. Other ques?
TR – if u hv a cell phone it’s not automatically included in sys, so yu hv to register your cell phone,
EJ - go to city ofasburypark.com, click on the code red, enter your information.
TR – we hv to coordinate w/ Neptune, channel 12 was called first, but we did
Pat Fasano – I’m a non absentee and did plow all properties/ city worker plowed a ton of snow into mouth of his parking lot
Met w/ iStar’s real estate person , who came from trammel crowe and Hovnanian and sounded like he really knows what he’s doing – Brian…encourage you to try to wk with this person if possible.
Tarrantino – Heck St./ paid twice to remove snow from prop/
ED's NOTE:
At this point your omniscient observer lost her anonymity and other things and took to the mic to state that were this rain instead of snow, we all would have drowned while Public Works determined the best route out of town; to remind Reidy and others that there is an Emergency Management Plan (Reidy is the Emergency Management Coordinator for the City), that it was only after prodding from yours truly 4 or 5 years ago that Reidy finally produced the plan, which was filled with contact names for dead people, defunct communications companies, and obsolete telephone exchanges -- but did not contain an Evacuation Plan. The EMgr coordinates with the county and state police, effectively making the reinventing of the wheel discussed by so many in this meaning, unnecessary. Local authorities, under Mr. Reidy's direction, do however have to fill in the plan with the local information.
If you would like to review the pdf files for the revised, work in progress plan the fire company is working on, please click on the yellow caution sign in the left hand banner on this site http://www.AsburyRadio.com If you would like the history of Asbury Radio's efforts to attract attention to this life and death issue, please go to the directory on this site.
Public comment cont'd...
Jerry Scarano – hav fire hydrants more available, people whose kids playing their yards but not shoveling snow.
Kerry Butch – happy friends and neighbors helped each other, amy quinn called Butch on cell phone to say code red, much appreciated.
Her Q -Bond ordinance for $250,000 reads for redevelopment. Is that for legal fees? Yrs ago city said we’d never pay legal fees for redevelopment, wd always be developer's respons.
TR – This is the money to litigate against developer no way he is going to pay for it/
KB – goes against the spirit of what was told to city. Paid for not with one tax dollar of people of Asbury park. So it’s a violation of promises made to us.
Duane Small – gen’l contractor/ wnt to thank brian giving me opp to help with snow removal. Like bible tells us
Danny Weiss – 4th ave – has partner not well right now. Afraid might need medical help.
We were stuck in hse facing 4th av, not one salter, not one sander, Garrett Giberson was on internet telling storm was coming. Terry u just said phenomenal, perform not any where near phenomenal / not one person has complained about fire, poliece/ Grant they are complaining about - lack of vision / should hv better communication next time/ every once and awhile impatience is a virtue.
Denise Richards – Ridge Ave/ did see front loader come through and he was stuck after cleaning out a driveway/ only way ambulance got thru, put patient on a sled and pulled him all the way to heck av. When frontloader got out, he never came back. if we hired people w/in town we wdn’t hv to worry about them getting into town in a crisis.
We were talking about snow storm for a long while. Shd’ve been better prepared / cooperation. I don’t know what plan you had in place but you have to take that plan out and...
George Kary - What’s status of city's ultimatum to iStar, the 10 days has lapsed.
TR – basically iStar said it doesn’t agree with us. (smiling)
GK - That's it?
JL- Well, it was a little bit more than that Terry. (smiling)
TR - Debated our points and said disagree.
GK - How long can this go on? We’re all stuck here, couldn’t sell if we wanted to. .
TR – governing body and admin has come up w/ strategy that will move things along, we can’t discuss it in public.
GK – can you bar people from driving in bad weather?
TR – unfortunately can't
Cerise – Lake Ave –
Do u hv agreements with county, state for how avenues will be opened, any plans to communicate w/ state.
TR – already started communication during the storm / dialogue was this never happened before and never happen again.
C – looked to see if I could park in State garage but it was locked/ one plow guy did push snow away so she and kids, husband cd dig car out
Keith ?–
From mayor’s rq to share our experiences/ share photo of two DPW workers sitting in broken down plow for 12 hours…/ hope 5 of you up there support brian grant in gaining credibility for what he’s trying to do
Linda Phillips – Bridge is there a plan for that storm that’s coming?
Contracts in place?
BG – right now we have approx 4 contractors assisting us/ we stil hv to get rid of this snow/ repairing lot of the equip’t damaged in storm, mechanics wkg 12hr days/fortunately I operate the cad cam system for color coding, continue to get //
--end of meeting-- Please Note: Brian Grant tells Asbury Radio calls he made to the County Emergency Management Officer were not returned. This is how our investigation of former EMO Harry Conover began. Does the State Office of Emergency Management hold any sway over the counties?
- The Voice of Asbury Park ~ matters vital to justice, environment, equality, culture and pursuit of happiness.
Showing posts with label asbury park council. Show all posts
Showing posts with label asbury park council. Show all posts
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Monday, September 27, 2010
Asbury Park Braces for Tax Increase
The City's portion of the Asbury Park budget will result in an increase of about 8% on property tax bills, the public learned during a special council meeting, convened at 9:30 today, to amend and adopt the 2010 budget. But the 8% does not include possible increases for county or school tax, the tax collector confirmed today.
The City's governing body, auditor and CFO were still awaiting information from Monmouth County on the county and schools portion, even as the council met to pass a third amendment to the 2010 Municipal budget, which now reflects extraordinary aid from the State of $11.75 million. The county information may be known on Wednesday.
Public attending the meeting said the city manager, Terry Reidy, and an auditor for the City, seemed nervous and expressed concern about additional costs on the horizon, such as pension and health insurance contributions the governor has said he expects municipalities to make.
The agenda posted on the City's site read:
Resolutions to authorize Special Officers to attend Monmouth County Police Academy.
Resolution - 3rd Amendment to 2010 Municipal Budget.
Possible Adoption of 2010 Municipal Budget.
The City's governing body, auditor and CFO were still awaiting information from Monmouth County on the county and schools portion, even as the council met to pass a third amendment to the 2010 Municipal budget, which now reflects extraordinary aid from the State of $11.75 million. The county information may be known on Wednesday.
Public attending the meeting said the city manager, Terry Reidy, and an auditor for the City, seemed nervous and expressed concern about additional costs on the horizon, such as pension and health insurance contributions the governor has said he expects municipalities to make.
The agenda posted on the City's site read:
Resolutions to authorize Special Officers to attend Monmouth County Police Academy.
Resolution - 3rd Amendment to 2010 Municipal Budget.
Possible Adoption of 2010 Municipal Budget.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
City Will Lease Lots from iStar for Oceanfront Parking
The City of Asbury Park's elected council brought forward from executive session an item worked out under the Sunshine Law exemption of Contract Negotiations in order to vote its approval. The item was an agreement with iStar Financial, which bought Asbury Partners' shares in the oceanfront redevelopment, whereby the City will lease iStar's vacant lots in order to turn them into municipal parking lots. The City estimates it will cost about $150,000 to surface the three lots, and three years to work down the debt through parking fees, which it will share with iStar.
Asbury Radio's
Reporters' Notebook – additions, corrections, clarifications -send to asburyradio@aol.com
Council meeting – August 4, 2010
Workshop session – John Loffredo, Sue Henderson, Kevin Sanders, James Bruno, No clerk/ Kiki Tomek taking notes.
Presentation wash av redev plan – with Don Sammet, director of redevelopment and planning –
Been some time coming, process started 2000 when designated in need of redev.
Master plan noted need / hsg auth/ draft of plan started few months ago, went to Planning Bd, which had recommendations, worked w/ grp to amend the plan/ w hv now what I believe to be the best possible plan.
Mr. George Williams – planner, equal parts of the planning process/ council plans to adopt tonight by ordinance the plan/
Summary of plan – commissioned by hsg auth/ full redev plan is …how many acres? [can’t be heard] Plan is not…?...was designed to support existing as well as new…site layout, pros and cons of layouts/ fronting on wash ave/ all dev// pkg lots w/ be recessed…
Scale is slightly decreased, as per patterns on wash ave/ density decrease slightly/ number of editorial changes…
Planning process long time in mkg/
JL asked a q about design but cdn’t be heard/ no one using mics yet.
Tom Gilmour – Commerce dir
Mics are turned off. They chk mics
Gilmour spks louder/ youth grp wants us to waive fee to use beach /
JL hv they been informed we no longer waive fees.
Terry Reidy – were told last yr
JL – VFW has agreed to sponsor 20 and council sponsor 10
JBruno – visitors may bring paying people with them/ may pay for Marquette to sponsor w/ 100 tickets
Trinity church parish picnic northern end Asbury beach/ no cooking/ no alcohol/
Fun in Sun – applicant was invited to come to discuss w/ council. Hasn’t had chance to attend.
35th annual Clearwater/ 10 yrs now/
Wedding aug 29th 6th av beach, Jennifer santos, ok
Sunday sept 19th 7 am to
City arts event – artscap has decided do as ap event/ Fri to Sunday 9/24 – 26
Big brothers/big sisters volley ball/ 4th ave
Denise keller wedding 5th av beach/ 9/25
Latino festival sunset park – 500 people/
Dept of recreation – sunset pk, annual recog of recreation dept aug 12th
Memo from Madison Marquette – green space for music paramount show/ profile music outdoors for benefit hunger bank / wkg w/ mm very closely on that/ 4, 5, 6 of Sept sev’l green spaces near pony.
Mayor’s ball requests arcade be closed at 4 pm, for setup. Aqua bar can stay open, one door and other will be closed off. Other merchants w/ hv to close/ TR says other retial will be open.
Matters introduced by council –
Bruno – outside seating on boardwalk, asked u to lk into it.
Sidewalk café,Chief Kinmon answers. We wnt out/ they all had permits/
Bruno – got print out of all merchants who had space last yr/ Madison mar asked everyone to put tbls and chrs outside/
Kinmon – did inform them wd hv to have permit if didn’t.
SH – I support revision theater and went to see Tommy and it was amazing…got two more events coming up/ wd love to see them find a home, too.
TR – they’re close
Sanders – offmic
TR – reason city went to the 3 yr was req from one of our restauranteurs/ process too cumbersome/ this was effort to streamline process /
City atty fred raffetto - Council may tk action on 2 issues discussed in private session today/ lease agreement where city wd be tenant, Asbury partners w/d be landlord/ pkg facilities too. Second – resolution redev agreement city and interfaith neighbors/ project council has been referring to, which senior ctr w/ be part of that complex
TR – thousands of people coming to town on weekends/ what a great job police are doing, challenge to do this not confrontational or aggressive/ prosecutors office, surrounding police depts. Mark networks with/ congratulate you on..
Close work session.
Break for 5 mins.
Public –
Pam Lamberton – chr sustainability committee
Status of green bldg chk list? So it can be applied to the redev plan.
JL thank you will be passed on.
Raffetto –
Vernice McGriff – no mics working / second motion come out to chill out Friday night at train station.
We’ll be invaded by topless people Aug 22? Think seriously we hav to giv out information/ I was talking to lady in Flor. There they had wagon set up, so when they try to come in ticket them/ hav to ask our capt how they handle it. In fla gave tickets and put them in the wagon/ there is a newspaper pushing it. Don’t think it shd be pushed on us. Think police dpt
Chief of Police Kinmon – we are planning and preparing for it/ history of it/ what’s happened in past/ as far as arresting, not an arrestable offense/ summons, yes. Like riding bike on boardwalk-
McGriff – we shd make a strong statement against it.
Lou Parisis – representing all veterans. A memorial is a remembrance of important people who’ve passed on. That mission was adopted by present council, enhanced mem’l , held fund raiser, led by dep mayor john loffredo, council presence and those who attended in support of fundraiser.
Rita Marano – 8th av
For one wk didn’t hav receptionist just machine/ then another machine/ when shift commander at police dept there shd be someone/
Kinmon – option first is zero if want the operator
Marano – wnt to know what you’re going to do about it/ we’re entitled to hav a person at the end of that phone/ they hv nothing but contempt for taxpayers/ nobody in this whole bldg can tk the phones.
TR – sprinkled into that request rita/ variety of claims I feel ungrounded/ city employees hv contempt…not true. Use caller id to avoid residents – not true. If not getting return calls he’ll look into that. You can’t hv both ways, too many employees got to get rid of, then we reduce staff and you complain no on to answer phone. Every resident who calls deserves a response.
Wayne May – status of baronet/ eminent domain/ fishman said he wdn’t tear it down unless cd move it otherwise wd be restored. There was ref since condos not being sold some areas may be taken out of plan. Who owns it now?
TR - iStar owns now/ I know that bowling alley is under new ownership, hv been proposal for baronet to use as theater. Redevelopment plan is under review w/ be amended/ don’t belive 4th will be cut out of plan though, don’t believe use as…is impossible.
Wayne – so I should get my friends who expressed interest in buying it.
JL – I myself suggested that to a theater grp – mold problem inside it/ so to be accused of letting it rot is not fair/ if u hv someone interested in buying it go ahead.
Jim moran – grand av
Know hv rules re dogs on boardwalk/ dog on beach lifeguard said nothing/ little dog into ocean, as dog wd try to get out, individual wd take into deeper water, lifeguard said nothing about the dog/ police walked by no comment re dog/ certainly was abuse of this animal. No one did anything about…..
End of Public session
Expansion of Cameo bar to outside courtyard – all yes
Beach Bar permit for fourth av and have green spaces for special event Madison Marquette is running
Resolution – bchfront and sewer utility – monies to 5 million/ +
Council passed Emergency Temporary Budget Appropriations for the following payments
MCIA Payment Bond Principal $293,750
MCIA Bond Interest $127,000
NJEIT Debt Payments $472,000
Lease agreement – city to re surface empty lots belonging to iStar for pkg spaces on wtrfront/ Cost – $150k construction, to be recouped from revenue from the pkg/ city and iStar for 3 parcels it currently owns, lot behind Paradise Bar, another next to Adriatic Restaurant and the old Charms lot, outfit with lighting, striped and used as municipal pkg lots/
istar and city w/ share revenue that comes out/ estimated return on city’s investment will take 3 yrs approx to get return/ if iStar decides to use for its own use, city wd be repaid whatever cap investment it made at that pt.
Resolutions mon. county redev agreement between city and Interfaith Neighbors for Stars dev area/ which includes building that will house senior ctr/ parcels 27, 466 SF mixed use structure/ 2nd flr for senior center/
Sept 1, 2010 ords above w/ be up for passage
Two more ordinances but not on agenda sheet/ w/also come up for passage, 9/1/10
Upstage – ordinance – all voted to approve – don’t now what it’s for…
Sewer connection fees moved to carry…
Motion to adjourn
Asbury Radio's
Reporters' Notebook – additions, corrections, clarifications -send to asburyradio@aol.com
Council meeting – August 4, 2010
Workshop session – John Loffredo, Sue Henderson, Kevin Sanders, James Bruno, No clerk/ Kiki Tomek taking notes.
Presentation wash av redev plan – with Don Sammet, director of redevelopment and planning –
Been some time coming, process started 2000 when designated in need of redev.
Master plan noted need / hsg auth/ draft of plan started few months ago, went to Planning Bd, which had recommendations, worked w/ grp to amend the plan/ w hv now what I believe to be the best possible plan.
Mr. George Williams – planner, equal parts of the planning process/ council plans to adopt tonight by ordinance the plan/
Summary of plan – commissioned by hsg auth/ full redev plan is …how many acres? [can’t be heard] Plan is not…?...was designed to support existing as well as new…site layout, pros and cons of layouts/ fronting on wash ave/ all dev// pkg lots w/ be recessed…
Scale is slightly decreased, as per patterns on wash ave/ density decrease slightly/ number of editorial changes…
Planning process long time in mkg/
JL asked a q about design but cdn’t be heard/ no one using mics yet.
Tom Gilmour – Commerce dir
Mics are turned off. They chk mics
Gilmour spks louder/ youth grp wants us to waive fee to use beach /
JL hv they been informed we no longer waive fees.
Terry Reidy – were told last yr
JL – VFW has agreed to sponsor 20 and council sponsor 10
JBruno – visitors may bring paying people with them/ may pay for Marquette to sponsor w/ 100 tickets
Trinity church parish picnic northern end Asbury beach/ no cooking/ no alcohol/
Fun in Sun – applicant was invited to come to discuss w/ council. Hasn’t had chance to attend.
35th annual Clearwater/ 10 yrs now/
Wedding aug 29th 6th av beach, Jennifer santos, ok
Sunday sept 19th 7 am to
City arts event – artscap has decided do as ap event/ Fri to Sunday 9/24 – 26
Big brothers/big sisters volley ball/ 4th ave
Denise keller wedding 5th av beach/ 9/25
Latino festival sunset park – 500 people/
Dept of recreation – sunset pk, annual recog of recreation dept aug 12th
Memo from Madison Marquette – green space for music paramount show/ profile music outdoors for benefit hunger bank / wkg w/ mm very closely on that/ 4, 5, 6 of Sept sev’l green spaces near pony.
Mayor’s ball requests arcade be closed at 4 pm, for setup. Aqua bar can stay open, one door and other will be closed off. Other merchants w/ hv to close/ TR says other retial will be open.
Matters introduced by council –
Bruno – outside seating on boardwalk, asked u to lk into it.
Sidewalk café,Chief Kinmon answers. We wnt out/ they all had permits/
Bruno – got print out of all merchants who had space last yr/ Madison mar asked everyone to put tbls and chrs outside/
Kinmon – did inform them wd hv to have permit if didn’t.
SH – I support revision theater and went to see Tommy and it was amazing…got two more events coming up/ wd love to see them find a home, too.
TR – they’re close
Sanders – offmic
TR – reason city went to the 3 yr was req from one of our restauranteurs/ process too cumbersome/ this was effort to streamline process /
City atty fred raffetto - Council may tk action on 2 issues discussed in private session today/ lease agreement where city wd be tenant, Asbury partners w/d be landlord/ pkg facilities too. Second – resolution redev agreement city and interfaith neighbors/ project council has been referring to, which senior ctr w/ be part of that complex
TR – thousands of people coming to town on weekends/ what a great job police are doing, challenge to do this not confrontational or aggressive/ prosecutors office, surrounding police depts. Mark networks with/ congratulate you on..
Close work session.
Break for 5 mins.
Public –
Pam Lamberton – chr sustainability committee
Status of green bldg chk list? So it can be applied to the redev plan.
JL thank you will be passed on.
Raffetto –
Vernice McGriff – no mics working / second motion come out to chill out Friday night at train station.
We’ll be invaded by topless people Aug 22? Think seriously we hav to giv out information/ I was talking to lady in Flor. There they had wagon set up, so when they try to come in ticket them/ hav to ask our capt how they handle it. In fla gave tickets and put them in the wagon/ there is a newspaper pushing it. Don’t think it shd be pushed on us. Think police dpt
Chief of Police Kinmon – we are planning and preparing for it/ history of it/ what’s happened in past/ as far as arresting, not an arrestable offense/ summons, yes. Like riding bike on boardwalk-
McGriff – we shd make a strong statement against it.
Lou Parisis – representing all veterans. A memorial is a remembrance of important people who’ve passed on. That mission was adopted by present council, enhanced mem’l , held fund raiser, led by dep mayor john loffredo, council presence and those who attended in support of fundraiser.
Rita Marano – 8th av
For one wk didn’t hav receptionist just machine/ then another machine/ when shift commander at police dept there shd be someone/
Kinmon – option first is zero if want the operator
Marano – wnt to know what you’re going to do about it/ we’re entitled to hav a person at the end of that phone/ they hv nothing but contempt for taxpayers/ nobody in this whole bldg can tk the phones.
TR – sprinkled into that request rita/ variety of claims I feel ungrounded/ city employees hv contempt…not true. Use caller id to avoid residents – not true. If not getting return calls he’ll look into that. You can’t hv both ways, too many employees got to get rid of, then we reduce staff and you complain no on to answer phone. Every resident who calls deserves a response.
Wayne May – status of baronet/ eminent domain/ fishman said he wdn’t tear it down unless cd move it otherwise wd be restored. There was ref since condos not being sold some areas may be taken out of plan. Who owns it now?
TR - iStar owns now/ I know that bowling alley is under new ownership, hv been proposal for baronet to use as theater. Redevelopment plan is under review w/ be amended/ don’t belive 4th will be cut out of plan though, don’t believe use as…is impossible.
Wayne – so I should get my friends who expressed interest in buying it.
JL – I myself suggested that to a theater grp – mold problem inside it/ so to be accused of letting it rot is not fair/ if u hv someone interested in buying it go ahead.
Jim moran – grand av
Know hv rules re dogs on boardwalk/ dog on beach lifeguard said nothing/ little dog into ocean, as dog wd try to get out, individual wd take into deeper water, lifeguard said nothing about the dog/ police walked by no comment re dog/ certainly was abuse of this animal. No one did anything about…..
End of Public session
Expansion of Cameo bar to outside courtyard – all yes
Beach Bar permit for fourth av and have green spaces for special event Madison Marquette is running
Resolution – bchfront and sewer utility – monies to 5 million/ +
Council passed Emergency Temporary Budget Appropriations for the following payments
MCIA Payment Bond Principal $293,750
MCIA Bond Interest $127,000
NJEIT Debt Payments $472,000
Lease agreement – city to re surface empty lots belonging to iStar for pkg spaces on wtrfront/ Cost – $150k construction, to be recouped from revenue from the pkg/ city and iStar for 3 parcels it currently owns, lot behind Paradise Bar, another next to Adriatic Restaurant and the old Charms lot, outfit with lighting, striped and used as municipal pkg lots/
istar and city w/ share revenue that comes out/ estimated return on city’s investment will take 3 yrs approx to get return/ if iStar decides to use for its own use, city wd be repaid whatever cap investment it made at that pt.
Resolutions mon. county redev agreement between city and Interfaith Neighbors for Stars dev area/ which includes building that will house senior ctr/ parcels 27, 466 SF mixed use structure/ 2nd flr for senior center/
Sept 1, 2010 ords above w/ be up for passage
Two more ordinances but not on agenda sheet/ w/also come up for passage, 9/1/10
Upstage – ordinance – all voted to approve – don’t now what it’s for…
Sewer connection fees moved to carry…
Motion to adjourn
Thursday, July 8, 2010
AP Council Meeting July 7, 2010
Due to other commitments, Asbury Radio did not cover last night's council meeting. If anyone did attend and has notes, please send on and I will post them here under your name as the Guest Reporter's Notebook. AsburyRadio@AOL.com
Among the issues I would have listened for is news on the dead fish of Deal Lake. Eye witnesses said hundreds of dead fish, eels and crabs were hauled out of the lake and trucked away during the 4th of July weekend. Since Councilperson Susan Henderson sits on the Deal Lake Commission, I hoped to hear a report from her.
Also, news on the State's decision regarding its annual aid to Asbury Park, in light of City Manager Terry Reidy's past statements regarding our budget deficit.
Bradley Cove and the city's Waterfront Redevelopment Agreement with Asbury Partners/ISTAR were both listed on the Executive or private Session, as was Capital One/Metro Homes Site; all three are of vital importance to the city. Metro Homes of course was building the Esperanza condo complex, which has been on hold for a few years now.
Looking for Topless News? According to NY news programs, our city attorney advised the council that by statute topless women would be a violation of the indecent exposure laws. So it never was a local matter. The council apparently dropped the issue.
Among the issues I would have listened for is news on the dead fish of Deal Lake. Eye witnesses said hundreds of dead fish, eels and crabs were hauled out of the lake and trucked away during the 4th of July weekend. Since Councilperson Susan Henderson sits on the Deal Lake Commission, I hoped to hear a report from her.
Also, news on the State's decision regarding its annual aid to Asbury Park, in light of City Manager Terry Reidy's past statements regarding our budget deficit.
Bradley Cove and the city's Waterfront Redevelopment Agreement with Asbury Partners/ISTAR were both listed on the Executive or private Session, as was Capital One/Metro Homes Site; all three are of vital importance to the city. Metro Homes of course was building the Esperanza condo complex, which has been on hold for a few years now.
Looking for Topless News? According to NY news programs, our city attorney advised the council that by statute topless women would be a violation of the indecent exposure laws. So it never was a local matter. The council apparently dropped the issue.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
State Keeps City Budget in Question - Council Meeting June 16, 2010
Welcome to the Reporters’ Notebook –
Corrections, Clarifications, Additions Welcome; AsburyRadio@aol.com
Council Meeting June 16, 2010
Mayor Absent – Present: Susan Hendrickson, Deputy Mayor John Loffredo, Kevin Sanders, James Bruno
City Introduces 2010 Budget Estimated at $40 Million
$24 Million to be Raised From Taxes
City Still in Dark Re State Aid for 2010
City Scrapes to Find Revenue Opps & Cost Cuts
[Readers are advised to review Executive, Workshop and Public Agendas at http://www.cityofasburypark.com/ ]
Workshop – missed beach badge discussion –
City Engineer, Brian Grant, $200mn from DOT, lkg to increase size of '09 program, wnt to change 09 program to get better economies of scale, lkg to combine to get all streets done/
Temporary budget for emergency $300k in budget in order to fund in timeline, need to add to emergency budget
Bruno – asking about change order for $293k
City Mgr, Terry Reidy – expanding 09 change order to save money in 2010
Don Sammett – Don was instructed to keep statements short- Joke –
Pkg fund payment, equal cost of a structured pkg stall/ a Central Business District (CBD) wide parking solution is being explored.
Chief Keddy of AP Fire Dept –
Commodities resale agreement and shared svcs plan. Charge $85/hr for repairs/ someone else wd do gen’l main for $68/hr / plus wd do resales to us, anything we need county also provides, also on svcs, current contractor $90/hr, county pays $48/hr. “Skies the limit” think we should take advantage of this.
Loffredo – lkg over what they wd do/ vehicle washing…does all this hav to go there
CKeddy – no whatever makes sense…we’re not obligated to go there.
Loffredo – if we sell vehicles to county w/we be committed to letting them do maintenance?
TR – if we’re paying twice as much w/ contracts we hv now, like lowest bidder, where bid makes sense to us/it’s at our discretion, our call
CK – very interested in extending
JL – cty gov needs reason to exist
CK –cty jst started getting vehicles serviced by cty garage (?)
TR –
Tom Gilmour, Commerce Dir – bids on signage program / wnt permission to go out for it, UEZ w/ pay/ for train station, beach, etc. ready to go finally
Special events – Allen Chapel summer camp on beach, wnt to waive beach fees kids 7 – 15, july 5 and 31/ pending review and app’l by special events committee.
Ocean Mile Swim – Joe supv of beach approves. 5th ave beach, may be moved to Sunset av beach, August also Sunset av
Bond fire – also sunset av beach.
NJ Race Club –
James Bruno - June 26th Asbury Av, between brand and heck, wnt to close, no (Loffredo)
July 4th – festival on north end of boardwalk, something diff. rides for kids north of sunset av pavilion and vendors
Parade 1pm cook to sunset, to ocean av, 2n third and 4th av for fireworks/ bruno wd love to put firewks on north end/ Gilmour has vetted that request w/ police and fire already
Gilmour -Letter from Madison Marquette; request to extend permit for euro bubble/ extend to aug 15th
ArtsCAP applied to Smithsonian, travel exhibit 2011, new harmonies, deals w/ musical heritage, first city that will hav that designation/ bring visitors into city/ yr long event maybe to celebrate our musical heritage/ curriculum for school system to use/ great op for us in 2011, to celebrate all great things happening here in the city. Talked to clubs very interstd tying into it. Since nat’l wd be nat’l exposure. W/ ask Kevin Sanders…
Bruno: absolutely!!
Comedy fest postponed, need more info.
James Famularo – impediments to housing choice// mkg free hsg choices, block grant requires this/ miss hazel Samuels recommends we use same firm Portnoy/ tk 4 – 6 mos for project to be completed.
JLoffredo – do they do anything re rehabbing existing housing?
JF – No – jst study identifies impediments to free housing choices.
JL – it’s a preliminary report to housing needs report
TR – are there discrimatory choices about hsg… not generated by HUD because agency thought we need…HUD requires of all HUD Block grant recipients
SH – are we obligated to HUD
JF – w/ put together a plan of action/ we can mk own
SH – Hazel Samuels (former Housing Dev Dir) is comfortable in using this company
TR- it’s an RFP, but yes Hazel is comfortable w/ this company
Gov body wd tk info and submit plan / not HUD telling us what to do.
Matters to be Introduced by Council –
SH – signs for parade say coucilwoman
Discussion of council members as substitute
JL – I was on The breeze radio this week and was brilliant
City Atty, Fred Raffetto: Council may take action on 4 items from exec session
1 - Redeveloper agreement between city and sp’wd commons LLC – Vince Gifford’s 5,881 sf 3-story mixed use structure with commercial spc on 1st flr and 16 affordable units on upper – 10 three , six 2 BR std redeveloper agreement
2 – first reading of ordinance to auth lease agreemtn for 4 Basket Ball courts w/ bd of ed – under 10 yr lease agreement city w/ take over maintain and renovate them/ w/ take 4 to 3 courts – funded by CBG Money
3 – resolution assumption Lynx Asset Services llc
Assumption by Lynx to the Griffin Redevelopment project located within the city’s central business district redevelopment area
4 – authorize settlement of case between Sebastion Ronald Lawes and city of AP – rear end collision vehicle driven by city employee, Anthony Thompson, employee in Public Wks Dept. Truck cdn’t come to full stop, snow conditions. January 29, 2007 accident date. Amicable resolution $15k to each of two plaintiffs-- driver and passenger.
Public portion – there w/ be budget hearing at end
Rita Marano – 8th Ave – Inservo claims? Can you tell us what that is? 30 cases at $40,000…
Clerk Steve Kay – what up w/ that
TR – third party administrator that manages claims wkman’s comp claims for city, Inservco reviews when employee files claim, if injury incurred during employment city req’d to pay for care. Sometimes city may challenge amount paid.
TR - In NJ wkers comp courts incredibly weighted toward workers’ claims. Once judge renders these opinions city legally obligated to make payments
RM – kids on bdwk last wkend collecting money, think it’s terrible
Who’s keeping track of the money?
Kevin Sanders –
We did it as kids.
Bob Stevens – 515 third av When is the sceheduled appt of municipal judge going to be
JLoffredo --doing interviews on the 25th, next meeting perhaps make announcement
BS – reappointment of Judge Mark Apostolou //wd recommend him/ (bs is volunteer with court system as a mediator) /operates well oiled machine/ very large calendar to deal w/ by far given highest accolades w/in county , the court itself, very professionally run crt/ if I were in position to mk appt. I wd give that op to hear bkgrnd what they hv to offer with understanding that that train rolls, that train moves…
Bill Resnick – 220 5th ave --Don’t know if anyone’s noticed how busy the beaches are as soon as the sun comes out/ city needs to charge more to make money.
Julian Purvis – 22nd annual jazz festival/ goes usually to 8 pm, now on flyer says goes to 6 pm/ everyone in city lk forward to/ concerned time it ends/ is it because of raise the roof concert down the street?
Sanders – city has done 22 yrs, but this yr different company running it. Don’t think other event has anything to do w/ decision/ RUE Entertainment is running the festival
Dale Bender – cookman av
Wants to get a pot belly pig and raise indoors, house trained, don’t shed, don’t bark, don’t bite/ this is no swine. How can amend restriction against.
JL –
JB – Garrett Giberson has had a bunch of them
TR – not uncommon in any municipality
JL – mr bender go ahead and get your pig and we’ll manage…
DB – cost to get on beach for fishing too much - $65 for season too much for those on fixed income
Lou Parisi – VFW, we pledge to one another our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor/ in less than 3 wks thanks to jim bruno we’re going to celebrate the birth of our great country 234 yrs ago. Thank you jim and council for bringing us the parade.
Thanks too for memorial day observances.
Close of public session –
Ap’d minutes june 2nd, all yes
$955,251.15 payroll for two wks.
Bill resolution $2mn +
13 liquor license renewals approved
Need tax clearance to renew liquor license – Chico’s, etc.
Special events – approved except for Asbury Av plan to block/ has to go bk to spec events committee
No reappointments
2010 target grant for police dept
Resolution approving Redeveloper agreement with Springwood Commons Project in Stars Redevelopment Area
Resolution Griffin Project - transfer of various agreements for the Griffin Project – approved…this was transferred from the private, closed session. No other info was provided.
Shared svcs w/ cty of Monmouth – approved
Fair housing choice app’d
Ordinance BB Courts – adjacent to middle school on bangs/ july 7th hearing appr’d introduction
Ordinance pkg along bangs av, etc. app’d
Terry Reidy - Exceed Budget CAP – auditor: appropriations w/in the CAP, which was set at zero, but cd go to 3.5% more/ this ordinance raises cap that amount/ anything unappropriated or unexpensed, those monies u can bank.
Meeting opened to public for comment on budget cap
Rita Marano – how does that impact tax payer?
Auditor – no not direct one to one impact on taxpayer
Budget as introduced is $1.6mn less than max allowable by statute.
All yes to adopt ordinance.
Sewer connection/ revising ordinance/ city atty fred raffetto asked to table for now to review possible modifications
Budget hearing now of 2010 budget – there is a statuatory req’t to have public hrg on muni budgets
TR – budget had to be introduced by certain date, with or without information from State regarding State contribution to the City/ state hasn’t figured out own budget yet/ or municipal aid it w/ send to towns either. Normally by now you’d know unofficially, this yr we do not, no muni in state receives info on this now. Despite that AP instructed by state to introduce budget, w/out special or transitional aid in it/ if no aid, city wd be forced to increase taxes by 110%. This won’t happen though since state has assured us we w/ will get aid; it jst hasn’t said how much.
Downside of process is that we’re w/out sufficient aid to discuss budget in regard to how much aid we’ll get and how much of the budget will have to be cut back to accommodate any shortfall, as you to the pt you raised a few moments earlier, Rita… to know what budget w/ be.
I’ve been down to Trenton doz times. Gov is aware situation AP is in/ very pleased progress city has made/
budget represents decrease in spending, no raise to AP city employee in last 3 yrs/ layoff plan goes into effect july 1/ reduced overtime fire dept by $400k/
revenue has increased in past 5 yrs. 09 beach rev $325k/ $80k raised just over Mem’l Day wkend/ $550k court and police revenue, last yr 1 milln$, pkg in 09 reached $275k/ in 09 first 2 wks $8,800, same weeks in 2010 tripled to $34,000.
But these revenues won’t balance budget in 2010. Strongly advocating to Trenton we need to chg way we fund muni services/ asked state to wk w/ us on task force to reduce costs of delivering services/ anyone can reduce budget by eliminating services, we’re not talking about that/ costs money to protect people feel safe when come to our town/ met w/ Lt Gov, Dept of Community Services commissioner, etc., all in support of AP to reduce overhead, we’re the only city that’s down there making specific proposals on how to do this. Don’t have spec answers from Trenton/
JBruno – Hope you did remind state they’re the ones who recommended council increase hiring in police and fire depts/ during its 6 mo audit review yrs ago/
City has received $30 mn in some aid from state over last 5 yrs. (This does not include other State aid. Ex: AP received $20 million from State last year.)
Public hearing – Marano declines saying city mgr did a good job of explaining. No one else speaks.
Meeting Adjourned
Corrections, Clarifications, Additions Welcome; AsburyRadio@aol.com
Council Meeting June 16, 2010
Mayor Absent – Present: Susan Hendrickson, Deputy Mayor John Loffredo, Kevin Sanders, James Bruno
City Introduces 2010 Budget Estimated at $40 Million
$24 Million to be Raised From Taxes
City Still in Dark Re State Aid for 2010
City Scrapes to Find Revenue Opps & Cost Cuts
[Readers are advised to review Executive, Workshop and Public Agendas at http://www.cityofasburypark.com/ ]
Workshop – missed beach badge discussion –
City Engineer, Brian Grant, $200mn from DOT, lkg to increase size of '09 program, wnt to change 09 program to get better economies of scale, lkg to combine to get all streets done/
Temporary budget for emergency $300k in budget in order to fund in timeline, need to add to emergency budget
Bruno – asking about change order for $293k
City Mgr, Terry Reidy – expanding 09 change order to save money in 2010
Don Sammett – Don was instructed to keep statements short- Joke –
Pkg fund payment, equal cost of a structured pkg stall/ a Central Business District (CBD) wide parking solution is being explored.
Chief Keddy of AP Fire Dept –
Commodities resale agreement and shared svcs plan. Charge $85/hr for repairs/ someone else wd do gen’l main for $68/hr / plus wd do resales to us, anything we need county also provides, also on svcs, current contractor $90/hr, county pays $48/hr. “Skies the limit” think we should take advantage of this.
Loffredo – lkg over what they wd do/ vehicle washing…does all this hav to go there
CKeddy – no whatever makes sense…we’re not obligated to go there.
Loffredo – if we sell vehicles to county w/we be committed to letting them do maintenance?
TR – if we’re paying twice as much w/ contracts we hv now, like lowest bidder, where bid makes sense to us/it’s at our discretion, our call
CK – very interested in extending
JL – cty gov needs reason to exist
CK –cty jst started getting vehicles serviced by cty garage (?)
TR –
Tom Gilmour, Commerce Dir – bids on signage program / wnt permission to go out for it, UEZ w/ pay/ for train station, beach, etc. ready to go finally
Special events – Allen Chapel summer camp on beach, wnt to waive beach fees kids 7 – 15, july 5 and 31/ pending review and app’l by special events committee.
Ocean Mile Swim – Joe supv of beach approves. 5th ave beach, may be moved to Sunset av beach, August also Sunset av
Bond fire – also sunset av beach.
NJ Race Club –
James Bruno - June 26th Asbury Av, between brand and heck, wnt to close, no (Loffredo)
July 4th – festival on north end of boardwalk, something diff. rides for kids north of sunset av pavilion and vendors
Parade 1pm cook to sunset, to ocean av, 2n third and 4th av for fireworks/ bruno wd love to put firewks on north end/ Gilmour has vetted that request w/ police and fire already
Gilmour -Letter from Madison Marquette; request to extend permit for euro bubble/ extend to aug 15th
ArtsCAP applied to Smithsonian, travel exhibit 2011, new harmonies, deals w/ musical heritage, first city that will hav that designation/ bring visitors into city/ yr long event maybe to celebrate our musical heritage/ curriculum for school system to use/ great op for us in 2011, to celebrate all great things happening here in the city. Talked to clubs very interstd tying into it. Since nat’l wd be nat’l exposure. W/ ask Kevin Sanders…
Bruno: absolutely!!
Comedy fest postponed, need more info.
James Famularo – impediments to housing choice// mkg free hsg choices, block grant requires this/ miss hazel Samuels recommends we use same firm Portnoy/ tk 4 – 6 mos for project to be completed.
JLoffredo – do they do anything re rehabbing existing housing?
JF – No – jst study identifies impediments to free housing choices.
JL – it’s a preliminary report to housing needs report
TR – are there discrimatory choices about hsg… not generated by HUD because agency thought we need…HUD requires of all HUD Block grant recipients
SH – are we obligated to HUD
JF – w/ put together a plan of action/ we can mk own
SH – Hazel Samuels (former Housing Dev Dir) is comfortable in using this company
TR- it’s an RFP, but yes Hazel is comfortable w/ this company
Gov body wd tk info and submit plan / not HUD telling us what to do.
Matters to be Introduced by Council –
SH – signs for parade say coucilwoman
Discussion of council members as substitute
JL – I was on The breeze radio this week and was brilliant
City Atty, Fred Raffetto: Council may take action on 4 items from exec session
1 - Redeveloper agreement between city and sp’wd commons LLC – Vince Gifford’s 5,881 sf 3-story mixed use structure with commercial spc on 1st flr and 16 affordable units on upper – 10 three , six 2 BR std redeveloper agreement
2 – first reading of ordinance to auth lease agreemtn for 4 Basket Ball courts w/ bd of ed – under 10 yr lease agreement city w/ take over maintain and renovate them/ w/ take 4 to 3 courts – funded by CBG Money
3 – resolution assumption Lynx Asset Services llc
Assumption by Lynx to the Griffin Redevelopment project located within the city’s central business district redevelopment area
4 – authorize settlement of case between Sebastion Ronald Lawes and city of AP – rear end collision vehicle driven by city employee, Anthony Thompson, employee in Public Wks Dept. Truck cdn’t come to full stop, snow conditions. January 29, 2007 accident date. Amicable resolution $15k to each of two plaintiffs-- driver and passenger.
Public portion – there w/ be budget hearing at end
Rita Marano – 8th Ave – Inservo claims? Can you tell us what that is? 30 cases at $40,000…
Clerk Steve Kay – what up w/ that
TR – third party administrator that manages claims wkman’s comp claims for city, Inservco reviews when employee files claim, if injury incurred during employment city req’d to pay for care. Sometimes city may challenge amount paid.
TR - In NJ wkers comp courts incredibly weighted toward workers’ claims. Once judge renders these opinions city legally obligated to make payments
RM – kids on bdwk last wkend collecting money, think it’s terrible
Who’s keeping track of the money?
Kevin Sanders –
We did it as kids.
Bob Stevens – 515 third av When is the sceheduled appt of municipal judge going to be
JLoffredo --doing interviews on the 25th, next meeting perhaps make announcement
BS – reappointment of Judge Mark Apostolou //wd recommend him/ (bs is volunteer with court system as a mediator) /operates well oiled machine/ very large calendar to deal w/ by far given highest accolades w/in county , the court itself, very professionally run crt/ if I were in position to mk appt. I wd give that op to hear bkgrnd what they hv to offer with understanding that that train rolls, that train moves…
Bill Resnick – 220 5th ave --Don’t know if anyone’s noticed how busy the beaches are as soon as the sun comes out/ city needs to charge more to make money.
Julian Purvis – 22nd annual jazz festival/ goes usually to 8 pm, now on flyer says goes to 6 pm/ everyone in city lk forward to/ concerned time it ends/ is it because of raise the roof concert down the street?
Sanders – city has done 22 yrs, but this yr different company running it. Don’t think other event has anything to do w/ decision/ RUE Entertainment is running the festival
Dale Bender – cookman av
Wants to get a pot belly pig and raise indoors, house trained, don’t shed, don’t bark, don’t bite/ this is no swine. How can amend restriction against.
JL –
JB – Garrett Giberson has had a bunch of them
TR – not uncommon in any municipality
JL – mr bender go ahead and get your pig and we’ll manage…
DB – cost to get on beach for fishing too much - $65 for season too much for those on fixed income
Lou Parisi – VFW, we pledge to one another our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor/ in less than 3 wks thanks to jim bruno we’re going to celebrate the birth of our great country 234 yrs ago. Thank you jim and council for bringing us the parade.
Thanks too for memorial day observances.
Close of public session –
Ap’d minutes june 2nd, all yes
$955,251.15 payroll for two wks.
Bill resolution $2mn +
13 liquor license renewals approved
Need tax clearance to renew liquor license – Chico’s, etc.
Special events – approved except for Asbury Av plan to block/ has to go bk to spec events committee
No reappointments
2010 target grant for police dept
Resolution approving Redeveloper agreement with Springwood Commons Project in Stars Redevelopment Area
Resolution Griffin Project - transfer of various agreements for the Griffin Project – approved…this was transferred from the private, closed session. No other info was provided.
Shared svcs w/ cty of Monmouth – approved
Fair housing choice app’d
Ordinance BB Courts – adjacent to middle school on bangs/ july 7th hearing appr’d introduction
Ordinance pkg along bangs av, etc. app’d
Terry Reidy - Exceed Budget CAP – auditor: appropriations w/in the CAP, which was set at zero, but cd go to 3.5% more/ this ordinance raises cap that amount/ anything unappropriated or unexpensed, those monies u can bank.
Meeting opened to public for comment on budget cap
Rita Marano – how does that impact tax payer?
Auditor – no not direct one to one impact on taxpayer
Budget as introduced is $1.6mn less than max allowable by statute.
All yes to adopt ordinance.
Sewer connection/ revising ordinance/ city atty fred raffetto asked to table for now to review possible modifications
Budget hearing now of 2010 budget – there is a statuatory req’t to have public hrg on muni budgets
TR – budget had to be introduced by certain date, with or without information from State regarding State contribution to the City/ state hasn’t figured out own budget yet/ or municipal aid it w/ send to towns either. Normally by now you’d know unofficially, this yr we do not, no muni in state receives info on this now. Despite that AP instructed by state to introduce budget, w/out special or transitional aid in it/ if no aid, city wd be forced to increase taxes by 110%. This won’t happen though since state has assured us we w/ will get aid; it jst hasn’t said how much.
Downside of process is that we’re w/out sufficient aid to discuss budget in regard to how much aid we’ll get and how much of the budget will have to be cut back to accommodate any shortfall, as you to the pt you raised a few moments earlier, Rita… to know what budget w/ be.
I’ve been down to Trenton doz times. Gov is aware situation AP is in/ very pleased progress city has made/
budget represents decrease in spending, no raise to AP city employee in last 3 yrs/ layoff plan goes into effect july 1/ reduced overtime fire dept by $400k/
revenue has increased in past 5 yrs. 09 beach rev $325k/ $80k raised just over Mem’l Day wkend/ $550k court and police revenue, last yr 1 milln$, pkg in 09 reached $275k/ in 09 first 2 wks $8,800, same weeks in 2010 tripled to $34,000.
But these revenues won’t balance budget in 2010. Strongly advocating to Trenton we need to chg way we fund muni services/ asked state to wk w/ us on task force to reduce costs of delivering services/ anyone can reduce budget by eliminating services, we’re not talking about that/ costs money to protect people feel safe when come to our town/ met w/ Lt Gov, Dept of Community Services commissioner, etc., all in support of AP to reduce overhead, we’re the only city that’s down there making specific proposals on how to do this. Don’t have spec answers from Trenton/
JBruno – Hope you did remind state they’re the ones who recommended council increase hiring in police and fire depts/ during its 6 mo audit review yrs ago/
City has received $30 mn in some aid from state over last 5 yrs. (This does not include other State aid. Ex: AP received $20 million from State last year.)
Public hearing – Marano declines saying city mgr did a good job of explaining. No one else speaks.
Meeting Adjourned
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Asbury Radio’s Reporters’ Notebook
Council Meeting – June 2, 2010 - As always corrections, additions, clarifications welcomed at AsburyRadio@aol.com
Full Council Present
Moment of Silence for Commerce Dir. Tom Gilmour and Family who lost Tom’s mom this week.
Oil Drilling Protest – Hands Across the Sands – June 26
Six Options for the Deteriorating Sunset Avenue Bridge
Woman Asks Council to Consider Creating Topless Beach for Women
Workshop
Denis Walsh, Mon Cty Dept of Engineering
Solutions for Sunset Ave Bridge over Deal Lake, which leads to Wanamassa.
Maser’s drawings presented by member of the Monmouth County Dept of Engineering
Six alternatives ranging from doing nothing to demolishing the 86 year-old bridge and rebuilding with a choice of options with prices ranging from $660,000 to more than $5 million. The County will apply the City’s choice of plan to the Federal Government, from which it hopes to gain approval for a federally funded bridge replacement. The bridge right now does not adhere to federal guidelines. For example the bridge can only withstand a weight load of 27 tons, where the standard for its grade is 40 tons.
[Additional notes on the presentation are available for those interested. asburyradio@aol.com]
Presenter: Could start new bridge design by early next year, 2011, 2 yrs at earliest to start construction, after labor day so as not to interfere w/ summer tourists.
8 ft shoulders are better from safety/ 6’ sidewalk is better, he says. Recommend, especially with concrete walls and foot traffic. His recommended design would not involve anyone’s property.
Mayor Ed Johnson offers audience opp to comment:
Donna Lagan – 1207 Sunset Av, owner of The Landing restaurant.
I’m afraid of there’s going to be a funnel effect. When customers parked on both sides, wider bridge w/ create funnel, endangering her customers crossing street. Coffer damn/ how does water get out/
Ans: coffer dams are kept lo enuf so always below flood stage/ all studies done to be sure set at right elevation/ coffer dam w/ flood before roadway does. Just finished job in Allentown and wk’d way supposed to/
As per crossing issue: too wide at bridge street, reduce amount of pavement patrons hv to cross. Make geometry more conforming, like more a conventional road.
Donna: Know you guys are concerned about getting sued,
Ans: when we get sued we all get sued. But more concerned w/ safety than getting sued.
Paul McEvely – 610 woodmere rd, applaud you and diligence in finding fed’l funds to replace this bridge, rows on lake everyday when no ice on it/ share donna’s concerns about funnel effect/ passage underneath roadbed, too, pls retain existing height between water and bridge and clearance between piers, so boats can pass
Tony McDonald – from 1300 sunset, relationship of bridge to my life very important. Qk comments, add’n to widening it, pretty darn close to being on my prop, guard rail wd affect his landscaping/ 5.5’ ft safer, better sure w/ be safer bridge when finished/ don’t want to design community away to conform w/ fed’l req’ts. Not jst the 5 ½ on each side, but multiply rdbed, shoulder ms
Todd rush, sunset drive – what is load limit for this type of bridge,
Ans: 40 ton on new std
TR: ever seen coming from deal into Allenhurst on ocean ave, everyone slows from 40 to 25mph, and they know police officer w/in a few feet/ laughter/ but believe hose flashing lighs mean a lot. Believe that’s a good thing.
Ans: lk at speed studies and recommend improvements/ wd be up to Ocean Twp and AP, as a local road
Mayor – these are things we can lk at as we make
Rose Scalotti, 1201 sunset – won’t u still be able to change the radius of bridge, if can hv 4’ shoulder and make it safer
Ans: yes cd do and that wd wk given 4 or 8’ option
3. Brian Grant – city engineer – lights
City Mgr Terry Reidy – right now don’t have the money to do this project
Mayor – money from stimulus can we sqz that?
BG – doesn’t come under that/ strictly storm sewer and clean drinking water
Workforce agreement w/ city and housing authority –
Mayor: need to help former convicts,
BG – recent sexual assault and burglary charges pre-empt that, charges that are not acceptable, in talks w/ Ramona Thornton//
TR – Ramona was very emphatic no people from Asbury Park be excluded from job opps.
BG - $15/hr…
on meters, 15 min drop off pk up zones, 5 elements – signage, not exceed 2 spc per blk, not in front of fire hydrant, to max use of avail real estate, so ord wd stipulate flex w/in loading zones. Allows mayor and council to mandate it wherever wnt to apply it. For downtown
James Famularo – Asst City Mgr and hsg dev
5 yr consolidated plan for Affordable housing, annual one-year plans/ Relocation dollars for people in need, if can’t afford utilities, emergency loan program/ mst important $92k for neighborhood revitalization, been using to make road improvments, infrastructure/ up to now $250mn for springwood ave, for road improvement/ need improvemtns on tot lots – in terrible state right now/
Mayor – can any of this be used if we finish springwd ave and hv wonderful lot, cd it be used to make a park?
TR – wd be a stretch. Mst grant money we get req matching funds. CBDG can be used to leverage other grant money.
Mayor – we should reach out to mel hood, who replaced Michael Brim on the mon cty parks comm..
Events –
Jersey Pride event – June 6, and surfrider fdn want an oil protest, hold hands across the beach, asking beach badge be waved
Mayor: hv another grp wnt to wk w/ AP kids on volley ball clinic wd u be willing to do something for ap kids in return /
Jonathan Weber of SurfRiders Foundation
–/Hands Across the Sand -- June 26 – oil drilling protest / they’ll be another surfrider event later on//wnt to put a human line in the sand, come to beach at 11 and join hands at noon for 15 minutes/ we do events each summer, swimming lessons
JLoffredo – but after they have to buy a badge
TR: we’ll have lifeguards and badge checkers/ there has to be some way that others don’t pretend they’re w/ that event.
JWeber – can have wristband or other and hav volunteers, our group and other grps.
Harvest Ministries – paying all fees. Aug 7
NJ Sand Soccer Tournament -8/14
Shore Athletic – 5K Event – 8/14
AP Volley ball – 3rd and 5th beaches – 8/21 & 22
AP Historical Society –Convention Hall Bdwlk 8/22
Yoga Basin – second ave beach s and s until 9/10
Matters from Council –
Jim Bruno – Great job cleaning Sunset Park, planting flowers, Ed Baker, kids from Neighbors United, give a good shout out.
John Loffredo – dogs and bikes on bdwlk, police don’t understand they’re not allowed. Senior citizen passes $15 for whole season, next is $40/ think we should raise them ASAP
Mayor – Award for NJ clean communities, free Rabies shots at firehouse and register both dogs and cats there at same time. Subcommittee mtg at transportation center.
From executive session – resolution use and occupany agreemtnt w/ Bd of Ed basketball court 1100 Bangs ave, city make all nec improvement sand use courts immediately.
Public Session –
Public Comment –
Vernice McGriff – I’m concerned about our young people standing on mem’l dr asking for money, dangerous setup to begin w/ we do hv money for young people why are those children standing out there w/ cups. I know you have programs tied into housing and other things
JF – out there to help offset costs of running other programs. Ex. Costs $50k a/yr to run pop warner, some $ comes from those kids/ since been out there no incidents of anyone getting hurt.
VMcG – maybe hvan’t had accident so far, and I’ve been approached by other people asking why they hv to go out there.
JB – we
Earl..jr – Belmar resident, grew up in AP and want to know why Lukus is pouring all this blacktop and no one here getting a job/
TR – lowest bidder gets the contract. Don’t know if you are same gentleman who spk at last mtg.
Earl – I spoke and keep speaking
TR – started to go over money…fed’l gov’t has recommendation no enforcement opp for the city
Earl – what does that mean?
TR – city engineer just up here, putting aside $250k workforce AP to hve locals do wk for city/ Lukus Bros has no obligation to hire , it’s lowest bidder, city req’d to award to lowest bidder.
Earl – I want to see some black faces
Bob Stevens – third av – adendem to what vernice said. I also find it quite treacherous children doing collection for pop warner or other…req’t now to wear some kind of vests, leaders of orgs shd be re’d to where some kind of vest and kids in road. Sometimes cannot see them. Shd be at least min req’t from city
Bruce Quinlan – freezers ice/ vendor for 26 yrs/ you’re enforcing noise ord that’s prob been on the books since 30s. Read off court decision vendor to play turkey in straw won case on state level. I think to enforce this ordinance is absolutely absurd.
TR – hv you gotten ticket?
BQ – no but competitor has - $50/wk for vendor/ $100 wk jst for me to sell ices, just because this woman on Kingsley no one went to her deli.
Everyone knows when hear my patented tune it’s Weezer Ice.
Reggie…, 506 5th ave, has council ever considered topless beach in this town for women
JLoffredo – DONE!!
TR – I’d support that.
Mayor – I don’t think we’ve reached that point in AP
Reggie – quite a few women already doing it now. You fellows have advantage there
Bob Farentino – ice cream/ hav had incidents where got summonses.
Mayor – in nuisance ordinance trying to find some balance
TR: old ordinance that actually prohibits any sound on ice cream trucks
BF: We can ask our guys to keep sound lo when they’re by someone’s hse.
Bob Stevens: asked to spk
Julian ?: two concerns, I’m opposed to beach q as family person. Re Lukus, heard the same concerns, monies paid to pay lukus, is it form community blk grant?
TR: depending on the job, projects out ther now, ENv Infras Trust dollars, sewer, storm system, some stimulus dollars, state dept of trans dollars, mainly for road repair monies from state.
Julian – is there a req’d % for minorities or Asbury residents.
TR: we researched that since last mtg, fed’l guidelines encourage minority wkrs, subcontract etc., city monitors it, contractor has to fill form describes processes how they hire/ basis to submit time sheets, etc. no obligation on their part to hire people from AP, city engineer recommended program to take money city carved out of project to dedicate to help locals get jobs. You could add money to a project but nothing that allows us to mandate that.
Julian – is there any problem going into a contract suggesting …
TR: we do that. Mayor attended sev’l wkshops we did/ sev’l affordable hsg projects we did recently, this rm filled w local residents/ contractors, workers/ tables for them to sit explain skills, meet and greets/ we do encourage all of that.
Rita Marano – think $9k error in engineering/ $4k on page 3 goes to $13k,
CFO – that’s the total from first 2 pgs, $4k is for engineering / $13k is for all other departments.
RM: Myra Campbell for urban renewal/ blanket for $12k
CFO – one of RCA bids for her house improvements.
RM: 12 new firemen/ supposed to hav cost saving for 1 yr is it up yet?
Chief Kinmon– end of month it w/ be//over $500,000 in grant money/ 60 overtimes yr to date/ in 08 had 435 overtime.
TR: short answer is yes.
TR: city saved over $400,000 in overtime due to add’l firefighters. Grant money that came in covered the other salaries.
Jerry Scarano – read about Molliver in paper today. Has he ever appraised anything that didn’t have to be appealed? Has he won anything for city.
TR: Yes he has.
JS: man got $1.5m, when molliver’s appraisal was much lower. I see it tax payers pay taxes, gets low ball offer, hire fornacola and hav to pay legal fees, something wrong w/ eminent domain process
TR: you’re starting w/ assumption not a fair appraisal
JS – Why doesn’t city just make a reasonable offer instead of wasting legal fees.
Lane – bidding ocean av to grand
City atty – provision in city redev plan and agreement provides developer, Apartners and Madison Marquette / master dev has right to Ocean Ave to bdwlk/ any vendor has to apply to the master developer/ can appeal to city
Kingsley to west?
Atty: Prime renewal area – Ocean Ave to Web, vending only in city sponsored special events/ that’s what’s agreed to in plan and binding now.
Lane - I was just trying to figure out how you give a developer that much power?
Atty: For city sponsored special events city can issue license
TR – when agreement was written reason written into it was so dev wd encourage businesses to come to the bdwlk and open up businesses. Similar to issue rita raised sev’l yrs ago vendors competing w/ stationery businesses.
Lane – mercantile vendor has to spend $50 wk compared to business $75 a yr/
TR: theory there is peddler doesn’t pay taxes, renting space / peddler is more seasonal
Lane – council is one app’d the agreement?
TR: they’re the ones had to approve it.
End of public portion.
Minutes May 19th approved.
Payroll - $1,326,000. includes ss, health insr.
Bill resolution $744,261.73
Mayor’s concert july 2 at transportation center – all yes
June 21 catering at carousel for langosta lounge – all yes
Liquor licenses – Asbury lanes, Harrison, synaxis, jimis, georgies, mcloones, jimi’s restaurant, bond st bar and grill, tap rm, upstage… all yes
Work session events – surfriders w/ amendments, app’d
Did you have Alternate #2 PB? No
Temp budget / $54,500. , beach utlity $12,000
Tax bills app’d
$47,000 Edward Byrne grant for police dept. all yes
Police to apply for grant for bulletproof vests and body armor grant
Retaining wall to remain 835 Central Ave
Use and occupancy agreement city to use basketball courts at middle school – yes
Workforce agreement approved
Bidding for 2 projects CBD and springwood utilities and lighting/ all yes
ORDINANCES –
A,b,d,f removed to July 7th
Dog/cat to $10.80
On street time limits – introduce- apprd
Adjourned
Council Meeting – June 2, 2010 - As always corrections, additions, clarifications welcomed at AsburyRadio@aol.com
Full Council Present
Moment of Silence for Commerce Dir. Tom Gilmour and Family who lost Tom’s mom this week.
Oil Drilling Protest – Hands Across the Sands – June 26
Six Options for the Deteriorating Sunset Avenue Bridge
Woman Asks Council to Consider Creating Topless Beach for Women
Workshop
Denis Walsh, Mon Cty Dept of Engineering
Solutions for Sunset Ave Bridge over Deal Lake, which leads to Wanamassa.
Maser’s drawings presented by member of the Monmouth County Dept of Engineering
Six alternatives ranging from doing nothing to demolishing the 86 year-old bridge and rebuilding with a choice of options with prices ranging from $660,000 to more than $5 million. The County will apply the City’s choice of plan to the Federal Government, from which it hopes to gain approval for a federally funded bridge replacement. The bridge right now does not adhere to federal guidelines. For example the bridge can only withstand a weight load of 27 tons, where the standard for its grade is 40 tons.
[Additional notes on the presentation are available for those interested. asburyradio@aol.com]
Presenter: Could start new bridge design by early next year, 2011, 2 yrs at earliest to start construction, after labor day so as not to interfere w/ summer tourists.
8 ft shoulders are better from safety/ 6’ sidewalk is better, he says. Recommend, especially with concrete walls and foot traffic. His recommended design would not involve anyone’s property.
Mayor Ed Johnson offers audience opp to comment:
Donna Lagan – 1207 Sunset Av, owner of The Landing restaurant.
I’m afraid of there’s going to be a funnel effect. When customers parked on both sides, wider bridge w/ create funnel, endangering her customers crossing street. Coffer damn/ how does water get out/
Ans: coffer dams are kept lo enuf so always below flood stage/ all studies done to be sure set at right elevation/ coffer dam w/ flood before roadway does. Just finished job in Allentown and wk’d way supposed to/
As per crossing issue: too wide at bridge street, reduce amount of pavement patrons hv to cross. Make geometry more conforming, like more a conventional road.
Donna: Know you guys are concerned about getting sued,
Ans: when we get sued we all get sued. But more concerned w/ safety than getting sued.
Paul McEvely – 610 woodmere rd, applaud you and diligence in finding fed’l funds to replace this bridge, rows on lake everyday when no ice on it/ share donna’s concerns about funnel effect/ passage underneath roadbed, too, pls retain existing height between water and bridge and clearance between piers, so boats can pass
Tony McDonald – from 1300 sunset, relationship of bridge to my life very important. Qk comments, add’n to widening it, pretty darn close to being on my prop, guard rail wd affect his landscaping/ 5.5’ ft safer, better sure w/ be safer bridge when finished/ don’t want to design community away to conform w/ fed’l req’ts. Not jst the 5 ½ on each side, but multiply rdbed, shoulder ms
Todd rush, sunset drive – what is load limit for this type of bridge,
Ans: 40 ton on new std
TR: ever seen coming from deal into Allenhurst on ocean ave, everyone slows from 40 to 25mph, and they know police officer w/in a few feet/ laughter/ but believe hose flashing lighs mean a lot. Believe that’s a good thing.
Ans: lk at speed studies and recommend improvements/ wd be up to Ocean Twp and AP, as a local road
Mayor – these are things we can lk at as we make
Rose Scalotti, 1201 sunset – won’t u still be able to change the radius of bridge, if can hv 4’ shoulder and make it safer
Ans: yes cd do and that wd wk given 4 or 8’ option
3. Brian Grant – city engineer – lights
City Mgr Terry Reidy – right now don’t have the money to do this project
Mayor – money from stimulus can we sqz that?
BG – doesn’t come under that/ strictly storm sewer and clean drinking water
Workforce agreement w/ city and housing authority –
Mayor: need to help former convicts,
BG – recent sexual assault and burglary charges pre-empt that, charges that are not acceptable, in talks w/ Ramona Thornton//
TR – Ramona was very emphatic no people from Asbury Park be excluded from job opps.
BG - $15/hr…
on meters, 15 min drop off pk up zones, 5 elements – signage, not exceed 2 spc per blk, not in front of fire hydrant, to max use of avail real estate, so ord wd stipulate flex w/in loading zones. Allows mayor and council to mandate it wherever wnt to apply it. For downtown
James Famularo – Asst City Mgr and hsg dev
5 yr consolidated plan for Affordable housing, annual one-year plans/ Relocation dollars for people in need, if can’t afford utilities, emergency loan program/ mst important $92k for neighborhood revitalization, been using to make road improvments, infrastructure/ up to now $250mn for springwood ave, for road improvement/ need improvemtns on tot lots – in terrible state right now/
Mayor – can any of this be used if we finish springwd ave and hv wonderful lot, cd it be used to make a park?
TR – wd be a stretch. Mst grant money we get req matching funds. CBDG can be used to leverage other grant money.
Mayor – we should reach out to mel hood, who replaced Michael Brim on the mon cty parks comm..
Events –
Jersey Pride event – June 6, and surfrider fdn want an oil protest, hold hands across the beach, asking beach badge be waved
Mayor: hv another grp wnt to wk w/ AP kids on volley ball clinic wd u be willing to do something for ap kids in return /
Jonathan Weber of SurfRiders Foundation
–/Hands Across the Sand -- June 26 – oil drilling protest / they’ll be another surfrider event later on//wnt to put a human line in the sand, come to beach at 11 and join hands at noon for 15 minutes/ we do events each summer, swimming lessons
JLoffredo – but after they have to buy a badge
TR: we’ll have lifeguards and badge checkers/ there has to be some way that others don’t pretend they’re w/ that event.
JWeber – can have wristband or other and hav volunteers, our group and other grps.
Harvest Ministries – paying all fees. Aug 7
NJ Sand Soccer Tournament -8/14
Shore Athletic – 5K Event – 8/14
AP Volley ball – 3rd and 5th beaches – 8/21 & 22
AP Historical Society –Convention Hall Bdwlk 8/22
Yoga Basin – second ave beach s and s until 9/10
Matters from Council –
Jim Bruno – Great job cleaning Sunset Park, planting flowers, Ed Baker, kids from Neighbors United, give a good shout out.
John Loffredo – dogs and bikes on bdwlk, police don’t understand they’re not allowed. Senior citizen passes $15 for whole season, next is $40/ think we should raise them ASAP
Mayor – Award for NJ clean communities, free Rabies shots at firehouse and register both dogs and cats there at same time. Subcommittee mtg at transportation center.
From executive session – resolution use and occupany agreemtnt w/ Bd of Ed basketball court 1100 Bangs ave, city make all nec improvement sand use courts immediately.
Public Session –
Public Comment –
Vernice McGriff – I’m concerned about our young people standing on mem’l dr asking for money, dangerous setup to begin w/ we do hv money for young people why are those children standing out there w/ cups. I know you have programs tied into housing and other things
JF – out there to help offset costs of running other programs. Ex. Costs $50k a/yr to run pop warner, some $ comes from those kids/ since been out there no incidents of anyone getting hurt.
VMcG – maybe hvan’t had accident so far, and I’ve been approached by other people asking why they hv to go out there.
JB – we
Earl..jr – Belmar resident, grew up in AP and want to know why Lukus is pouring all this blacktop and no one here getting a job/
TR – lowest bidder gets the contract. Don’t know if you are same gentleman who spk at last mtg.
Earl – I spoke and keep speaking
TR – started to go over money…fed’l gov’t has recommendation no enforcement opp for the city
Earl – what does that mean?
TR – city engineer just up here, putting aside $250k workforce AP to hve locals do wk for city/ Lukus Bros has no obligation to hire , it’s lowest bidder, city req’d to award to lowest bidder.
Earl – I want to see some black faces
Bob Stevens – third av – adendem to what vernice said. I also find it quite treacherous children doing collection for pop warner or other…req’t now to wear some kind of vests, leaders of orgs shd be re’d to where some kind of vest and kids in road. Sometimes cannot see them. Shd be at least min req’t from city
Bruce Quinlan – freezers ice/ vendor for 26 yrs/ you’re enforcing noise ord that’s prob been on the books since 30s. Read off court decision vendor to play turkey in straw won case on state level. I think to enforce this ordinance is absolutely absurd.
TR – hv you gotten ticket?
BQ – no but competitor has - $50/wk for vendor/ $100 wk jst for me to sell ices, just because this woman on Kingsley no one went to her deli.
Everyone knows when hear my patented tune it’s Weezer Ice.
Reggie…, 506 5th ave, has council ever considered topless beach in this town for women
JLoffredo – DONE!!
TR – I’d support that.
Mayor – I don’t think we’ve reached that point in AP
Reggie – quite a few women already doing it now. You fellows have advantage there
Bob Farentino – ice cream/ hav had incidents where got summonses.
Mayor – in nuisance ordinance trying to find some balance
TR: old ordinance that actually prohibits any sound on ice cream trucks
BF: We can ask our guys to keep sound lo when they’re by someone’s hse.
Bob Stevens: asked to spk
Julian ?: two concerns, I’m opposed to beach q as family person. Re Lukus, heard the same concerns, monies paid to pay lukus, is it form community blk grant?
TR: depending on the job, projects out ther now, ENv Infras Trust dollars, sewer, storm system, some stimulus dollars, state dept of trans dollars, mainly for road repair monies from state.
Julian – is there a req’d % for minorities or Asbury residents.
TR: we researched that since last mtg, fed’l guidelines encourage minority wkrs, subcontract etc., city monitors it, contractor has to fill form describes processes how they hire/ basis to submit time sheets, etc. no obligation on their part to hire people from AP, city engineer recommended program to take money city carved out of project to dedicate to help locals get jobs. You could add money to a project but nothing that allows us to mandate that.
Julian – is there any problem going into a contract suggesting …
TR: we do that. Mayor attended sev’l wkshops we did/ sev’l affordable hsg projects we did recently, this rm filled w local residents/ contractors, workers/ tables for them to sit explain skills, meet and greets/ we do encourage all of that.
Rita Marano – think $9k error in engineering/ $4k on page 3 goes to $13k,
CFO – that’s the total from first 2 pgs, $4k is for engineering / $13k is for all other departments.
RM: Myra Campbell for urban renewal/ blanket for $12k
CFO – one of RCA bids for her house improvements.
RM: 12 new firemen/ supposed to hav cost saving for 1 yr is it up yet?
Chief Kinmon– end of month it w/ be//over $500,000 in grant money/ 60 overtimes yr to date/ in 08 had 435 overtime.
TR: short answer is yes.
TR: city saved over $400,000 in overtime due to add’l firefighters. Grant money that came in covered the other salaries.
Jerry Scarano – read about Molliver in paper today. Has he ever appraised anything that didn’t have to be appealed? Has he won anything for city.
TR: Yes he has.
JS: man got $1.5m, when molliver’s appraisal was much lower. I see it tax payers pay taxes, gets low ball offer, hire fornacola and hav to pay legal fees, something wrong w/ eminent domain process
TR: you’re starting w/ assumption not a fair appraisal
JS – Why doesn’t city just make a reasonable offer instead of wasting legal fees.
Lane – bidding ocean av to grand
City atty – provision in city redev plan and agreement provides developer, Apartners and Madison Marquette / master dev has right to Ocean Ave to bdwlk/ any vendor has to apply to the master developer/ can appeal to city
Kingsley to west?
Atty: Prime renewal area – Ocean Ave to Web, vending only in city sponsored special events/ that’s what’s agreed to in plan and binding now.
Lane - I was just trying to figure out how you give a developer that much power?
Atty: For city sponsored special events city can issue license
TR – when agreement was written reason written into it was so dev wd encourage businesses to come to the bdwlk and open up businesses. Similar to issue rita raised sev’l yrs ago vendors competing w/ stationery businesses.
Lane – mercantile vendor has to spend $50 wk compared to business $75 a yr/
TR: theory there is peddler doesn’t pay taxes, renting space / peddler is more seasonal
Lane – council is one app’d the agreement?
TR: they’re the ones had to approve it.
End of public portion.
Minutes May 19th approved.
Payroll - $1,326,000. includes ss, health insr.
Bill resolution $744,261.73
Mayor’s concert july 2 at transportation center – all yes
June 21 catering at carousel for langosta lounge – all yes
Liquor licenses – Asbury lanes, Harrison, synaxis, jimis, georgies, mcloones, jimi’s restaurant, bond st bar and grill, tap rm, upstage… all yes
Work session events – surfriders w/ amendments, app’d
Did you have Alternate #2 PB? No
Temp budget / $54,500. , beach utlity $12,000
Tax bills app’d
$47,000 Edward Byrne grant for police dept. all yes
Police to apply for grant for bulletproof vests and body armor grant
Retaining wall to remain 835 Central Ave
Use and occupancy agreement city to use basketball courts at middle school – yes
Workforce agreement approved
Bidding for 2 projects CBD and springwood utilities and lighting/ all yes
ORDINANCES –
A,b,d,f removed to July 7th
Dog/cat to $10.80
On street time limits – introduce- apprd
Adjourned
Council Meeting Tonight
See the three agendas - for Executive, Workshop and Public Sessions
at http://www.cityofasburypark.com/content/1474/1154/1196/default.aspx
at http://www.cityofasburypark.com/content/1474/1154/1196/default.aspx
Monday, May 24, 2010
Reporters' Notebook: Council Meeting May 19th, 2010
Addition: Paul Fried responded to our request (see below). Paul and his wife live on 7th Avenue and have a food catering service. Check out the menu at http://www.chowhaultruck.com/ He is out of the real estate business for now and has no current business relations with Metro Homes' Geibel. Let's try this with the new planning board member...
Reporter's Notebook - Corrections, Additions, Clarifications Welcome - AsburyRadio@aol.com
AP Council Meeting -- May 19, 2010
City Still Faces Doubling Property Tax
Waterfront Boardwalk Agreement Approved
Washington Avenue Redevelopment Plan Proposed
Budget Cuts Reviewed
Dog Licenses Go Up
Parking Fee Revenue is Up
One-Way Streets Proposed
Break on Sewer Fees
Whole council present: Susan Henderson, Deputy Mayor John Loffredo, Mayor Ed Johnson, former Mayor Kevin Sanders, former Deputy Mayor James Bruno
Clerk Steve Kay
Board Appointments:
Zoning Board of Adjustment -- David Otley, Aternate #1 and Paul Fried, Alternate #2. Otley is a financial officer for YMCA, in Red Bank. He lives on Third Ave. According to Asbury Radio’s records Fried had a business relationship with Metro Homes in 2005. Metro Homes is owned by Dean Geibel, developer of the stalled Esperanza. We are told Fried is no longer working with Geibel. We’d like confirm this and additional information directly with Fried, if he will contact us. AsburyRadio@aol.com
Planning Board: Glenn Wilson - please contact us with your details.
Workshop –
Will be followed by open comment on waterfront MM retail agreement.
Couple asking permission for fence: approved.
Items from City Engineer – Brian Grant
City Mgr Terry Reidy -
Trial agreement for new parking meters –
Evaluating diff meter mfrs, second generation of meters…met w/ sev’l mfrs, like permission from gov body to try alternative digital parking systems, integrated technical systems ITS, they’re confident we’ll want to go ahead once we do pilot for 6 mos.
Mayor – this will address issues of dollar bills
Grant – not a trigger mech on the bill, which causes jams on a lot of bills, hoping from mech stndpt w/ represent solution to that
Mayor – machine at shop rite snaps up the dollar bill
Grant – also credit card processing, we hv real/time processing/ sometimes uses a cell based signal, which tks sev’l minutes to authorize/ newer model can appr’ve right away and chk later, wherein some payment risk is introduced which we’d hv to absorb loss
Mayor – what’s timeframe?
Grant – run on diff oper system/ w/ try out in pkg lot so they’ll serv whole pkg lot/
Bruno – how much?
Grant- $11,500 to $13,500 Smaller footprint. Lkg to hv solar panels, higher speed modem, wd req 110 elec. Hookup
We’ve lost revenue on parking…How Much?
[Explanation from Grant 5/24/10] So far this year we’ve made over $48,000 in receipts versus $4,500 in 2009 when we turned meters off for the winter and part of spring. All fees are reported weekly and are available from the city.
A.R. Note: In 2010, the City turned meters back on shortly after Christmas holidays. We noticed though that the parking lots, which belong to Madison Marquette, were not staffed and so allowed free parking throughout the winter. Opinion: While we’d like to see an end to the city having to compete against free parking. Paying $10 to a lot attendant to park in order to have lunch discourages us and maybe tourists as well.
Commerce Dir. Tom Gilmour – on lost rev for pkg authority…street vending during large events in city/ trying to figure out how to structure pkg regulations to mk avail pkg to large vehicles and get more revenue in bargain/ we’d rent pkg spaces to vendors/ wd designate certain areas, prob side streets to the west -- first, second, third avenues/
Mayor – concern I have is…
Grant – vendors with more history with city wd get premium spots
Mayor –new pizza plc opening up can jst see where pkg cd cost him customers…(?)
Off mic
Reidy – not getting a warm welcome let’s move on
Grant – next item cabanas and storage lockers on beach, for future if potential for offering
Reidy – this is something we’ve talked about over the last 4 or 5 yrs, jimmy you said this is something we’ve had in past
Bruno – don’t understand why it doesn’t go before the committee first/
Reidy – with more and more people coming to the beach, something not in conflict w/ Madison Marquette
Bruno – ques we can’t we hv popups on beach and sell stuff on the beach/ we used to sell hotdogs on the beach – not clr whether they said you still can or can’t
Mayor – I’ve heard it would be grt to hv showers on beach…baby steps
Grant – streets on West Side improvements to on southwest/ putting streets back online, not wide enough to accommodate current traffic/ wd council be opposed to changing streets to one way?
John Loffredo – I think it’s a very good idea
Grant – we’ve been shifting curb line, like on Monroe street, to save the trees
Bruno – was there a traf study done?
Grant – this is my recommendation on it.
Reidy – police, etc. studied it
Bruno – can I see the report on it.
Grant –
Bruno – so we’re going to do this w/out a traffic study from a traffic engineer
Mayor – we shd check w/ residents to see if they want it
Grant – there’s no traf study when change street signs, no req’t/
Grant – I put in a change order for add’l $1k, from EIT money for Major consultant
Sewer connection fee ordinance/ anyone hav q’s on it? Shd city be charging add’l fees for existing bldgs w/ set fees on them/ need to ck case law thru City Atty Fred Raffetto.
Mayor – why mvg curbs for trees, is this something applicable to downtown?
Grant – Not really, we have more flex in residential areas…
Redev Dir Don Sammet – Washington Ave designated redev area in 2000, plan never adopted / hired michilain group…content of draft plan presented to council to review and pass to planning bd. Man and woman introduced by Sammett off mic/ cdn’t get names/ Names: George Williams and Michele (sounds like) Delasport – joined w/ another firm edgecomb grp for architectural work/
Read comments by staff planner/ comfortable w/ everything read, mny chgs w/ be made aft PB hrg, but wnted your opinions
Hsg auth bd members gave input as well as residents and stakeholders, then did a mini charette / Council is referred to handouts they’ve been given. Audience has none.
Stakeholders felt investment in community not made over time and impediments to walking in community. Did demographic analysis:
Lower income levels compared to rest of city
Lower owner occupancy
Higher single mother families
Supported residents’ concerns
Plan formed based on their input/ plan is to move from simple to more aggressive steps
Need for infrastructure improvements
Area includes hsg auth prop, some not included in redev area/
PB instructed to investigate jug at prospect av, but it didn’t meet qual for redev area
Areas along Monroe and… not in redev area/
Census data used is from 2000
Recommend use of more owner occupied communities
Townhouse style cd be replicated throughout where there is room for deve.
He describes the housing styles in the area/ some lk like single but on entering multi units inside/
Area is Prospect on one end and ridge on the other.
Existing multi-fam struc can be rehabbed
In redev area or not housing auth who is his client/ recommendations are to clean up what already exists, all in R1a district/ people wanting to fix wd need to gain appr’ls from city
Mixed use comm’l district/ each district to hve set of standards
3 phases – 1. preservation, rehab and infill
2. vacant lots/ no eminent domain is required/ priv sector dev.
Each schema in plan gives some overview of what is expected so that readers can get a sense…
Approp density, sustainable amenities,
Bruno – prices?
Spkr – going to provide some price pts for hsg auth.
Bruno – can they get $ help
Michelle – w/ be affordable hsg eligible
Bruno – and mixed income that’s good
Michelle – Tower building w/ be used to address affordable hsg/
DS – do need PB review and comment so unless severe objections I’d suggest you do that.
Apprv’d by council to pass on to PB.
Dog license $11.20 if spayed or neutered and $14.20 if not. To increase $2.
Mayor – can we make the dif steeper?
Bruno – how many licenses do we have
Clerk – about 180 licenses issued
Bruno – can we do something thru code enforcement, a box when person gets CO if person has a dog they ck box?
Any place in town, can we ticket them if they don’t have a license? Asked of City Pol Chief Kinmon – no can’t ticket for lack of an out of town license.
Kinmon – req second and Langford no stopping and standing/ $30 identification card fee for bars/
Bruno - did police dept appr’v those one way streets?
CK -Yes
Bruno- Did you chek it w/ traffie expert
CK -No
Bruno - Report issued?
CK- No
Bruno - Any issues raised
CK- No
Bruno – don’t know why we get a 3 pg report on a single req for a handicapped spot and nothing to change these streets.
Mayor – when are we going to see atten for people flying thru traffic lights and stop signs/
Chief – fines hv been increased for littering, traffic violations, been in plc cpl of months
Last yr close 20k pkg and moving violations / 12 more spec police for summer so will be doing more/
Bruno – pedestrian signs for 5th and Kingsley?
Chief – I’ll ck w/ our traffic officer.
Christine – interim CFO
Wesley and Sunset Lake boat rental renewal / rehab on Wesley so water levels too low/ perhaps sunset lake, w/ see which sign is allowable there.
DS – no specific sign restrictions…
CFO – sunset is deep enough
City Atty FRaffetto: sewer fee question / our existing ord not consistent w/ state law/ new language w/ clarify that existing user w/ not hv to pay add’l fee automatically, a dec to be based on a add’l flo and only then if larger pipe is req’d wd an add’l fee be applied.
Gilmour: events// handed out sheets on add’l events
Berkeley hotel – Carnival for terminally ill children/ close street from sunset to kingsley in front of hotel for an event 5/23
RFK Events 7/10 bradley and atlantic park, up to 7000 people
Alice In Wonderland – wnt to create large sand castle on our beach to promote movie, this weekend.
Bruno – should be app’d pending events mtg on Tuesday
Ride is called Euro Bobble Madison Marquette’s event.– set up and run 5/29 thru July on second av green acre space, where the second av beach club eventually goes//
SHenderson – AIDS Walk – on Sunday, had entertainers here and there, are they special events?
Gilmour – I think they are, it’s nice to have music on beach/boardwalk but shd file for special events permit.
One item, freedom of speech - individual cd come to bdwlk evry Tues, north of 6th ave or sunset pav and if individ wanted amplification equip’t would have to bring and use special area, if not not nec.
Matters to be introduced by council -
Mayor – inaudible –
Reidy – something about drains…
Interfaith neighbors, artscap, city, bruce arbit brought grant opp from ford fdn - $400k – a planning grant for artists’ facility or space/ perfect opp to used on West Side maybe in…
ArtsCAP will be applying for but helps to include support from council w/ application.
Fred drafted grant application.
Public Comment on Proposed between City and Madison Marquette for Boardwalk Retail and Pavilion Development and Maintenance–
Following is a special comment period in response to citizen requests...
Duanne Small,1304 Mattison Av, –
Jobs and training component?
Tom Hastie, Esq – agreement for construction projects req local labor (thru hsg dept, 20% local employees is goal) and bldg supplies.
DS – will you ck to see if American citizens.
TH – no
DS – needs to be, that creates poverty and poverty creates crime
TH – obligation
Mike Ferguson –
Month ago you explained reconstruction of west side, at public session here in ten mins can ask that q, right now it’s just the agreement bet madison Marquette.
(Didn’t get gentleman’s name. He had been taking movies of proceedings )
I’m OSHA qualified $110Mn
Asbury Tower, I built that building…yrs ago and they didn’t hire one person from community. I talked to mayor and nothing gotten done/ When we’re doing something again in community/ I’d like to see jobs in community…he’s going to build 10mn 7mn we’ll get nothing, you know, fireman, I’m keeping it real/ mk sure they hav union qualified contractors.
Marano – Rita –
Going to knock down sunset pavilion
TH can do
RM -And 5 yrs to bld on it
TH – yes
RM – can bld pkg lot
TH – no has to be recreation
TR – absolutely not a pkg lot
Werner Baumgartner – 402 5th Av
Bruno – welcome back
WB – thank you, helluva document got here /
270 pgs?
WB – Asbury partners went into bankruptcy
TH – Asbury Partners llc still in good standing, membership has been taken over
WB – means easements held by city on behalf of public…my knowledge of plan was there were no easements over the …maybe you meant over the green acres
TH – no it is actually over the pavilions, the ramps, over the pavilion prop
WB – the building boundaries define the actual parcels. I’m suggesting shd be looked a little closer
TH – shakes head no
WB – building at south end of boardwalk is the central steam heating plant – not a power plant
Pg 22, encroachments, anticipated elevator and stair structure on 5th ave pavilion, surprised and dismayed being added to it/ currently is a stair case and elevator on the property, no need to build outside the bldg when can envelop within the building.
In orig agreement was deal that new lighting fixtures wd be put up.
TH – that’s in section 2
WB – ugly cobra lights w/ be used?
TH – supplemented or replaced
WB -- Sunset av pav pg 31, Demolition for recr / Berkkely is struggling to survive/ pavilion was build to be connected to the hotel. Success of Berkeley is tied to success of city/ there was a bridge on the second floor to g over the ave and onto the boardwalk, wd behoove city to demand negotiation to demand link from second flr to pav because that is the linchpin for bringing commerce to both/
TR – Madison m and Berkeley ownerw dicussed w/ city 3 times/ to werner’s pt don’t disagree w/ bus pt, but it’s a business pt now between both developers/ and think both realize it wd benfit both but matter of them coming to gether to see how wd wok
Mayor – is this something that cd still happen with the sunset pavilion.
WB – it’s a design pt not an historic pt. I’d like to see an insert in plan it shd be encouraged/ not say oh well it can be a recreational /
City is stating on CH city is relieving mm from further responsiblility for restoration and repairs to CH, anyone can see, I’m shocked, that it is far from repaired/ the owner bought for great discount from city in order for city to get landmarks to be resotred.
TH – don’t think anyone’s walking away…old agreement dint’ put on Asbury partners and now MM to completely rehab that building/ see Werner
Bruno – Shipo have any guidelines?
DS – that was for all the exterior wk that had to be done/ there was a list / reviewed every improvement done in that bldg, as well as the historic trust/
WB – all they do is approve and document the wk that’s been done, doesn’t mean there isn’t more needed to be done/ terracotta is falling off and cracks in walls
TH – gazebo survives becz agreementw/ Partners, but reserved it/
WB – I strongly recommend give up on that, gazebo no room for…
Section 2 – easement encroachment agreement for CH. I’m happy you followed my advice and did include…but they can close the arcade completely during and after shows. Before and after shows is exactly when people are wkg thru… it’s not in the public’s interest/
Bruno – it’s for safety purposes
WB – Demised premises – a purchase option of $10,
TH – existing lease w/ Asbury partners was deficient for green acres/ no other biz terms in that lease are changed/
WB – that’s how much they pay/ purchase price $10
TH – it’s a lease
WB – no it says purchase
TH – (goes to his copy is looking up that section)
WB – there are 3 exhibits missing from the report, since this is a legally binding doc I think u should probably fix it.
My biggest disturbing factor – the casino is nowhere to be mentioned here/ what is the adaptive reuse
TH – our goal was to hv a tight enforceable agreement. With casino, bcz is such great bldg and requires so much investment, any agreement that says snap your fingers and improve this bldg…w/ not be approved. You saw that w/ the partners, it became so illusionary… better way is wait til they hav a plan, does refer to sev’l come bak when you have a plan…instead of creating a situation which we knew wd never be performed.
WB - …I know wv’l people in ocean grove and overriding q is when r u going to fix the casino, study showed linchpin to whole recovery is the millions of tourists to south of us, who come up the og bdwk and see main impediment , boarded windows, puddles on the terrazzo floor, arcade is a front dr to ap’s beachfront to millions of dollars/ put windows back, fix terrazzo flr and then sure a grand plan for later/ main entrance is a deterrent…applause!!!
5 minute Break—
Open Session –
Public Portion –
Joyce Stolaroff – cookman ave re. tables outside restaurants, wlking my city licenses dogs the other day and so much taken up by tables had to wlk in street. Like to know when be start being addressing again.
Chief – plans to address shortly. Usually instruct the businesses about the restrictions and …
Bruno – Grand Av bridge six of 8 are out.
Duanne Small – saw mention of a garden…
287 G Status – sheriff has now authority to check for immigration status
Mayor – want to place pots on tennis court and wk w/ young people to grow them and sell at farmers’ mkt/
DS – opp here is spec funding of garden is to hire young people to wk on garden
Also, out of state registration…
Rita Marano 8th ave –
Budget w/ be introduced tonight, can you tell us about it?
Mayor - Has been all over newspapers and will tk about it tonight.
RM - $41k to Scotland, what did he do that’s worth that?
TR – mst fes paid to Scotland is reimbursed thru developer agreement.
RM – but its’ not in that part of the bill, this was included in ours.
TR – they handle bond counsel, developer agreements, excellent law firm, guide us thru mst dif decisions and saved us hundreds of thousands of dollars.
RM - You sound like their pr person
Louise Murray –
Are tables on our right of way? If anything ever happened, who’s going to be responsible for that? If they’re falling down on our property.
Clerk – submit an insurance policy and rent the space from us.
Mike Ferguson – Washington Ave. – redevelopment efforts going on in AP, when are people of AP going to get involved in the work. They’re tearing apart AP st by st. when are we the citizens , me a union wkr, qualified, certified to rebld my community.
Mayor – we are involved, had SRO jst few wks ago, council app’d $250,000 thru Asbury Wks to wk w/ community to help them get training program for Asbury residents. Our residents involved in training and building new bldgs and infrastructure, end up w/ people licensed and trains to go forward and work in those trades.
MF – are you calling this Lukus group to be sure they’re hiring?
Mayor – I can’t tell them to hire you individually
MF – there’s bunch of Portuguese people doing the work, not anyone from AP.
Mayor – There’s not one sir.
MF – DS agrees the union job is the sewer work being done by the Lukos group. You’re blowin smoke up my ass right now.
Mayor – I’m not going to sit here and let you disrespect me. We’re doing more than any other council has ever done to be sure AP residents get jobs in this town.
MF - union was based here. We were trained by them only 7 or 8 of us, none of us are getting any.
TR – Lukos job, you say you’re qualified I don’t doubt that. DS made challenge months ago what are you going to do for young brothers and we got $250k to …
MF – hold on you’re taking me some place I don’t need to go.
TR – I’ll check this job tomorrow and if there’s a violation of fed’l law I’ll follow up on it.
MF had about 10 minutes to talk.
(Another Man) I went thru the union, he’s holding his union card, I’ve got 18 hrs of video, those workers came out of Staten Island, with Blade out of Jersey City, They’ve got a big problem, you don’t want to get me fired up. I built the Senior Tower 40 yrs ago. Now I’ll see you there tomorrow.
Steve Wider –
Problems on Cookman, should offer deal to swap condos with one end of Cookman so people who want the quiet can go to the quiet end. Make one end 3 ½ blocks all commercial. Like to see AP become city of entertainment.
Duanne Small - June 28 cousin is in major game, would you like to buy tickets I’d like to see council there.
Werner B - - right of way, I don’t hv a prob with that, you should have. One of public assets you’re charged with is protecting public space. Point is it’s illegal, there’s no personal right for a private property owner to build outside his property line. For you to allow that to happen is a disservice to the community. Part of beauty of AP is its design. Everytime allow bld outside property line encroaching on the public neighborhood’s value. Bell goes off, keeps beeping unlike with the union workers.
Small is back w/ the tickets.
Gerry Scarano –
Thinking about greeters at the train station cd be handing out emails / cd hv [“Charlie”? Trolley?] Take people from train to beach/ those people could get emails about events.
Council business
Reidy:
Liquor license transfer fast lane to 208 bond st, app’d by police dept. ---all yes
700 Emory St. Teretha Jones to 700 cookman, Richard Yorkowitz/ 75% for food service.
$39, 800,000 Budget introduced – State gov not announcing yet any of monies to special “Transitional Aid” to municipalities, we have to back into that, 2009 we got $10,500,000. But haven’t heard from Trenton so in this budget no aid is anticipated.
Some communities hav furloughed employees, we’ve had no raises in 3 yrs in AP
A.R. checked with payroll. No one has received a raise in AP since 2007. This includes City Manager Terry Reidy. AR is checking with Reidy to see if he declined contractually agreed to increases over these years.
Public Comment June meeting following mtg passage.
Working w/ people who wanted to retire but couldn’t, $350k of people retiring now. Is included in this budget and w/ be felt next yr.
Aggressive generating add’l revenue/ million more in combo of rev and cost savings.
Estab pkg ulity - it made in receipts $275k for 2009
Beach rev in 2009? [ Waiting response from Giberson.]
Revenue from Police dep and court, over $1mn, represents a half million jump
According to governor, Effective May 22, any muni that doen’t hv contracts where employees pay their benefits, employees w/ be req’d to pay 2.5% toward benefits
Ambulance billing up $400k over prior year.
O/T gone down/ depending on state aid w/ hv to lk at more cuts.
Horizon gave us 31% increase for employee health benefits next yr/ retirees, too, there’s already $1.5mn increase in 2010
Pension 2009 – deferred contribution to pension plan, $1.7m, is back in budget this yr. So that’s somewhat out of city’s control.
Revenues have gone down from all other state aid, energy aid, homeland security, utility aid decreased by $1.2Mn.
UEZ aid gone down
Pilot (abatements) adjusted down so payments down in 2010.
Just a snapshot of what city is facing and what we’ve tried to do.
One thing is clr isn’t one city in state of NJ that can solve rev shortages by themselves. Seriously considering consolidating services. AP appears to be only city going to Trenton to decide how this is being considered.
Impact of not having $10 mn means tax rate w/ double, but that won’t happen, because w/ likely get some State aid. If we fail to introduce the budget then we can’t be eligible for state aid.
All voted to introduce.
Agreement between city and MM –
John Loffredto - Q – wk needed to be done on CH, who signs off on that? I was part of all of that going to Trenton, when do we say this is enough?
TR – nothing in original agreement MM is required to complete. Hv to meet all the codes allow bldg to open/ restoring to what it was in 30s not a requirement.
Bruno – apologized to Werner B/ taken 2 yrs to get this done, times are tough we have to get this done/ I vote yes.
All yes
Resolution to approve grant from Ford Fdn – all yes
Move boat rentals to Sunset lake – all yes
Sewer - appr’d,
Budget – resolution – state req’d City to introduce city budget on April 30th. The state appr’d extension but needed this resolution stating we didn’t introduce it on time.
Taylor Bros - $18,000. A.R. waiting for clarification from City on purpose of payment.
Adjourned
Reporter's Notebook - Corrections, Additions, Clarifications Welcome - AsburyRadio@aol.com
AP Council Meeting -- May 19, 2010
City Still Faces Doubling Property Tax
Waterfront Boardwalk Agreement Approved
Washington Avenue Redevelopment Plan Proposed
Budget Cuts Reviewed
Dog Licenses Go Up
Parking Fee Revenue is Up
One-Way Streets Proposed
Break on Sewer Fees
Whole council present: Susan Henderson, Deputy Mayor John Loffredo, Mayor Ed Johnson, former Mayor Kevin Sanders, former Deputy Mayor James Bruno
Clerk Steve Kay
Board Appointments:
Zoning Board of Adjustment -- David Otley, Aternate #1 and Paul Fried, Alternate #2. Otley is a financial officer for YMCA, in Red Bank. He lives on Third Ave. According to Asbury Radio’s records Fried had a business relationship with Metro Homes in 2005. Metro Homes is owned by Dean Geibel, developer of the stalled Esperanza. We are told Fried is no longer working with Geibel. We’d like confirm this and additional information directly with Fried, if he will contact us. AsburyRadio@aol.com
Planning Board: Glenn Wilson - please contact us with your details.
Workshop –
Will be followed by open comment on waterfront MM retail agreement.
Couple asking permission for fence: approved.
Items from City Engineer – Brian Grant
City Mgr Terry Reidy -
Trial agreement for new parking meters –
Evaluating diff meter mfrs, second generation of meters…met w/ sev’l mfrs, like permission from gov body to try alternative digital parking systems, integrated technical systems ITS, they’re confident we’ll want to go ahead once we do pilot for 6 mos.
Mayor – this will address issues of dollar bills
Grant – not a trigger mech on the bill, which causes jams on a lot of bills, hoping from mech stndpt w/ represent solution to that
Mayor – machine at shop rite snaps up the dollar bill
Grant – also credit card processing, we hv real/time processing/ sometimes uses a cell based signal, which tks sev’l minutes to authorize/ newer model can appr’ve right away and chk later, wherein some payment risk is introduced which we’d hv to absorb loss
Mayor – what’s timeframe?
Grant – run on diff oper system/ w/ try out in pkg lot so they’ll serv whole pkg lot/
Bruno – how much?
Grant- $11,500 to $13,500 Smaller footprint. Lkg to hv solar panels, higher speed modem, wd req 110 elec. Hookup
We’ve lost revenue on parking…How Much?
[Explanation from Grant 5/24/10] So far this year we’ve made over $48,000 in receipts versus $4,500 in 2009 when we turned meters off for the winter and part of spring. All fees are reported weekly and are available from the city.
A.R. Note: In 2010, the City turned meters back on shortly after Christmas holidays. We noticed though that the parking lots, which belong to Madison Marquette, were not staffed and so allowed free parking throughout the winter. Opinion: While we’d like to see an end to the city having to compete against free parking. Paying $10 to a lot attendant to park in order to have lunch discourages us and maybe tourists as well.
Commerce Dir. Tom Gilmour – on lost rev for pkg authority…street vending during large events in city/ trying to figure out how to structure pkg regulations to mk avail pkg to large vehicles and get more revenue in bargain/ we’d rent pkg spaces to vendors/ wd designate certain areas, prob side streets to the west -- first, second, third avenues/
Mayor – concern I have is…
Grant – vendors with more history with city wd get premium spots
Mayor –new pizza plc opening up can jst see where pkg cd cost him customers…(?)
Off mic
Reidy – not getting a warm welcome let’s move on
Grant – next item cabanas and storage lockers on beach, for future if potential for offering
Reidy – this is something we’ve talked about over the last 4 or 5 yrs, jimmy you said this is something we’ve had in past
Bruno – don’t understand why it doesn’t go before the committee first/
Reidy – with more and more people coming to the beach, something not in conflict w/ Madison Marquette
Bruno – ques we can’t we hv popups on beach and sell stuff on the beach/ we used to sell hotdogs on the beach – not clr whether they said you still can or can’t
Mayor – I’ve heard it would be grt to hv showers on beach…baby steps
Grant – streets on West Side improvements to on southwest/ putting streets back online, not wide enough to accommodate current traffic/ wd council be opposed to changing streets to one way?
John Loffredo – I think it’s a very good idea
Grant – we’ve been shifting curb line, like on Monroe street, to save the trees
Bruno – was there a traf study done?
Grant – this is my recommendation on it.
Reidy – police, etc. studied it
Bruno – can I see the report on it.
Grant –
Bruno – so we’re going to do this w/out a traffic study from a traffic engineer
Mayor – we shd check w/ residents to see if they want it
Grant – there’s no traf study when change street signs, no req’t/
Grant – I put in a change order for add’l $1k, from EIT money for Major consultant
Sewer connection fee ordinance/ anyone hav q’s on it? Shd city be charging add’l fees for existing bldgs w/ set fees on them/ need to ck case law thru City Atty Fred Raffetto.
Mayor – why mvg curbs for trees, is this something applicable to downtown?
Grant – Not really, we have more flex in residential areas…
Redev Dir Don Sammet – Washington Ave designated redev area in 2000, plan never adopted / hired michilain group…content of draft plan presented to council to review and pass to planning bd. Man and woman introduced by Sammett off mic/ cdn’t get names/ Names: George Williams and Michele (sounds like) Delasport – joined w/ another firm edgecomb grp for architectural work/
Read comments by staff planner/ comfortable w/ everything read, mny chgs w/ be made aft PB hrg, but wnted your opinions
Hsg auth bd members gave input as well as residents and stakeholders, then did a mini charette / Council is referred to handouts they’ve been given. Audience has none.
Stakeholders felt investment in community not made over time and impediments to walking in community. Did demographic analysis:
Lower income levels compared to rest of city
Lower owner occupancy
Higher single mother families
Supported residents’ concerns
Plan formed based on their input/ plan is to move from simple to more aggressive steps
Need for infrastructure improvements
Area includes hsg auth prop, some not included in redev area/
PB instructed to investigate jug at prospect av, but it didn’t meet qual for redev area
Areas along Monroe and… not in redev area/
Census data used is from 2000
Recommend use of more owner occupied communities
Townhouse style cd be replicated throughout where there is room for deve.
He describes the housing styles in the area/ some lk like single but on entering multi units inside/
Area is Prospect on one end and ridge on the other.
Existing multi-fam struc can be rehabbed
In redev area or not housing auth who is his client/ recommendations are to clean up what already exists, all in R1a district/ people wanting to fix wd need to gain appr’ls from city
Mixed use comm’l district/ each district to hve set of standards
3 phases – 1. preservation, rehab and infill
2. vacant lots/ no eminent domain is required/ priv sector dev.
Each schema in plan gives some overview of what is expected so that readers can get a sense…
Approp density, sustainable amenities,
Bruno – prices?
Spkr – going to provide some price pts for hsg auth.
Bruno – can they get $ help
Michelle – w/ be affordable hsg eligible
Bruno – and mixed income that’s good
Michelle – Tower building w/ be used to address affordable hsg/
DS – do need PB review and comment so unless severe objections I’d suggest you do that.
Apprv’d by council to pass on to PB.
Dog license $11.20 if spayed or neutered and $14.20 if not. To increase $2.
Mayor – can we make the dif steeper?
Bruno – how many licenses do we have
Clerk – about 180 licenses issued
Bruno – can we do something thru code enforcement, a box when person gets CO if person has a dog they ck box?
Any place in town, can we ticket them if they don’t have a license? Asked of City Pol Chief Kinmon – no can’t ticket for lack of an out of town license.
Kinmon – req second and Langford no stopping and standing/ $30 identification card fee for bars/
Bruno - did police dept appr’v those one way streets?
CK -Yes
Bruno- Did you chek it w/ traffie expert
CK -No
Bruno - Report issued?
CK- No
Bruno - Any issues raised
CK- No
Bruno – don’t know why we get a 3 pg report on a single req for a handicapped spot and nothing to change these streets.
Mayor – when are we going to see atten for people flying thru traffic lights and stop signs/
Chief – fines hv been increased for littering, traffic violations, been in plc cpl of months
Last yr close 20k pkg and moving violations / 12 more spec police for summer so will be doing more/
Bruno – pedestrian signs for 5th and Kingsley?
Chief – I’ll ck w/ our traffic officer.
Christine – interim CFO
Wesley and Sunset Lake boat rental renewal / rehab on Wesley so water levels too low/ perhaps sunset lake, w/ see which sign is allowable there.
DS – no specific sign restrictions…
CFO – sunset is deep enough
City Atty FRaffetto: sewer fee question / our existing ord not consistent w/ state law/ new language w/ clarify that existing user w/ not hv to pay add’l fee automatically, a dec to be based on a add’l flo and only then if larger pipe is req’d wd an add’l fee be applied.
Gilmour: events// handed out sheets on add’l events
Berkeley hotel – Carnival for terminally ill children/ close street from sunset to kingsley in front of hotel for an event 5/23
RFK Events 7/10 bradley and atlantic park, up to 7000 people
Alice In Wonderland – wnt to create large sand castle on our beach to promote movie, this weekend.
Bruno – should be app’d pending events mtg on Tuesday
Ride is called Euro Bobble Madison Marquette’s event.– set up and run 5/29 thru July on second av green acre space, where the second av beach club eventually goes//
SHenderson – AIDS Walk – on Sunday, had entertainers here and there, are they special events?
Gilmour – I think they are, it’s nice to have music on beach/boardwalk but shd file for special events permit.
One item, freedom of speech - individual cd come to bdwlk evry Tues, north of 6th ave or sunset pav and if individ wanted amplification equip’t would have to bring and use special area, if not not nec.
Matters to be introduced by council -
Mayor – inaudible –
Reidy – something about drains…
Interfaith neighbors, artscap, city, bruce arbit brought grant opp from ford fdn - $400k – a planning grant for artists’ facility or space/ perfect opp to used on West Side maybe in…
ArtsCAP will be applying for but helps to include support from council w/ application.
Fred drafted grant application.
Public Comment on Proposed between City and Madison Marquette for Boardwalk Retail and Pavilion Development and Maintenance–
Following is a special comment period in response to citizen requests...
Duanne Small,1304 Mattison Av, –
Jobs and training component?
Tom Hastie, Esq – agreement for construction projects req local labor (thru hsg dept, 20% local employees is goal) and bldg supplies.
DS – will you ck to see if American citizens.
TH – no
DS – needs to be, that creates poverty and poverty creates crime
TH – obligation
Mike Ferguson –
Month ago you explained reconstruction of west side, at public session here in ten mins can ask that q, right now it’s just the agreement bet madison Marquette.
(Didn’t get gentleman’s name. He had been taking movies of proceedings )
I’m OSHA qualified $110Mn
Asbury Tower, I built that building…yrs ago and they didn’t hire one person from community. I talked to mayor and nothing gotten done/ When we’re doing something again in community/ I’d like to see jobs in community…he’s going to build 10mn 7mn we’ll get nothing, you know, fireman, I’m keeping it real/ mk sure they hav union qualified contractors.
Marano – Rita –
Going to knock down sunset pavilion
TH can do
RM -And 5 yrs to bld on it
TH – yes
RM – can bld pkg lot
TH – no has to be recreation
TR – absolutely not a pkg lot
Werner Baumgartner – 402 5th Av
Bruno – welcome back
WB – thank you, helluva document got here /
270 pgs?
WB – Asbury partners went into bankruptcy
TH – Asbury Partners llc still in good standing, membership has been taken over
WB – means easements held by city on behalf of public…my knowledge of plan was there were no easements over the …maybe you meant over the green acres
TH – no it is actually over the pavilions, the ramps, over the pavilion prop
WB – the building boundaries define the actual parcels. I’m suggesting shd be looked a little closer
TH – shakes head no
WB – building at south end of boardwalk is the central steam heating plant – not a power plant
Pg 22, encroachments, anticipated elevator and stair structure on 5th ave pavilion, surprised and dismayed being added to it/ currently is a stair case and elevator on the property, no need to build outside the bldg when can envelop within the building.
In orig agreement was deal that new lighting fixtures wd be put up.
TH – that’s in section 2
WB – ugly cobra lights w/ be used?
TH – supplemented or replaced
WB -- Sunset av pav pg 31, Demolition for recr / Berkkely is struggling to survive/ pavilion was build to be connected to the hotel. Success of Berkeley is tied to success of city/ there was a bridge on the second floor to g over the ave and onto the boardwalk, wd behoove city to demand negotiation to demand link from second flr to pav because that is the linchpin for bringing commerce to both/
TR – Madison m and Berkeley ownerw dicussed w/ city 3 times/ to werner’s pt don’t disagree w/ bus pt, but it’s a business pt now between both developers/ and think both realize it wd benfit both but matter of them coming to gether to see how wd wok
Mayor – is this something that cd still happen with the sunset pavilion.
WB – it’s a design pt not an historic pt. I’d like to see an insert in plan it shd be encouraged/ not say oh well it can be a recreational /
City is stating on CH city is relieving mm from further responsiblility for restoration and repairs to CH, anyone can see, I’m shocked, that it is far from repaired/ the owner bought for great discount from city in order for city to get landmarks to be resotred.
TH – don’t think anyone’s walking away…old agreement dint’ put on Asbury partners and now MM to completely rehab that building/ see Werner
Bruno – Shipo have any guidelines?
DS – that was for all the exterior wk that had to be done/ there was a list / reviewed every improvement done in that bldg, as well as the historic trust/
WB – all they do is approve and document the wk that’s been done, doesn’t mean there isn’t more needed to be done/ terracotta is falling off and cracks in walls
TH – gazebo survives becz agreementw/ Partners, but reserved it/
WB – I strongly recommend give up on that, gazebo no room for…
Section 2 – easement encroachment agreement for CH. I’m happy you followed my advice and did include…but they can close the arcade completely during and after shows. Before and after shows is exactly when people are wkg thru… it’s not in the public’s interest/
Bruno – it’s for safety purposes
WB – Demised premises – a purchase option of $10,
TH – existing lease w/ Asbury partners was deficient for green acres/ no other biz terms in that lease are changed/
WB – that’s how much they pay/ purchase price $10
TH – it’s a lease
WB – no it says purchase
TH – (goes to his copy is looking up that section)
WB – there are 3 exhibits missing from the report, since this is a legally binding doc I think u should probably fix it.
My biggest disturbing factor – the casino is nowhere to be mentioned here/ what is the adaptive reuse
TH – our goal was to hv a tight enforceable agreement. With casino, bcz is such great bldg and requires so much investment, any agreement that says snap your fingers and improve this bldg…w/ not be approved. You saw that w/ the partners, it became so illusionary… better way is wait til they hav a plan, does refer to sev’l come bak when you have a plan…instead of creating a situation which we knew wd never be performed.
WB - …I know wv’l people in ocean grove and overriding q is when r u going to fix the casino, study showed linchpin to whole recovery is the millions of tourists to south of us, who come up the og bdwk and see main impediment , boarded windows, puddles on the terrazzo floor, arcade is a front dr to ap’s beachfront to millions of dollars/ put windows back, fix terrazzo flr and then sure a grand plan for later/ main entrance is a deterrent…applause!!!
5 minute Break—
Open Session –
Public Portion –
Joyce Stolaroff – cookman ave re. tables outside restaurants, wlking my city licenses dogs the other day and so much taken up by tables had to wlk in street. Like to know when be start being addressing again.
Chief – plans to address shortly. Usually instruct the businesses about the restrictions and …
Bruno – Grand Av bridge six of 8 are out.
Duanne Small – saw mention of a garden…
287 G Status – sheriff has now authority to check for immigration status
Mayor – want to place pots on tennis court and wk w/ young people to grow them and sell at farmers’ mkt/
DS – opp here is spec funding of garden is to hire young people to wk on garden
Also, out of state registration…
Rita Marano 8th ave –
Budget w/ be introduced tonight, can you tell us about it?
Mayor - Has been all over newspapers and will tk about it tonight.
RM - $41k to Scotland, what did he do that’s worth that?
TR – mst fes paid to Scotland is reimbursed thru developer agreement.
RM – but its’ not in that part of the bill, this was included in ours.
TR – they handle bond counsel, developer agreements, excellent law firm, guide us thru mst dif decisions and saved us hundreds of thousands of dollars.
RM - You sound like their pr person
Louise Murray –
Are tables on our right of way? If anything ever happened, who’s going to be responsible for that? If they’re falling down on our property.
Clerk – submit an insurance policy and rent the space from us.
Mike Ferguson – Washington Ave. – redevelopment efforts going on in AP, when are people of AP going to get involved in the work. They’re tearing apart AP st by st. when are we the citizens , me a union wkr, qualified, certified to rebld my community.
Mayor – we are involved, had SRO jst few wks ago, council app’d $250,000 thru Asbury Wks to wk w/ community to help them get training program for Asbury residents. Our residents involved in training and building new bldgs and infrastructure, end up w/ people licensed and trains to go forward and work in those trades.
MF – are you calling this Lukus group to be sure they’re hiring?
Mayor – I can’t tell them to hire you individually
MF – there’s bunch of Portuguese people doing the work, not anyone from AP.
Mayor – There’s not one sir.
MF – DS agrees the union job is the sewer work being done by the Lukos group. You’re blowin smoke up my ass right now.
Mayor – I’m not going to sit here and let you disrespect me. We’re doing more than any other council has ever done to be sure AP residents get jobs in this town.
MF - union was based here. We were trained by them only 7 or 8 of us, none of us are getting any.
TR – Lukos job, you say you’re qualified I don’t doubt that. DS made challenge months ago what are you going to do for young brothers and we got $250k to …
MF – hold on you’re taking me some place I don’t need to go.
TR – I’ll check this job tomorrow and if there’s a violation of fed’l law I’ll follow up on it.
MF had about 10 minutes to talk.
(Another Man) I went thru the union, he’s holding his union card, I’ve got 18 hrs of video, those workers came out of Staten Island, with Blade out of Jersey City, They’ve got a big problem, you don’t want to get me fired up. I built the Senior Tower 40 yrs ago. Now I’ll see you there tomorrow.
Steve Wider –
Problems on Cookman, should offer deal to swap condos with one end of Cookman so people who want the quiet can go to the quiet end. Make one end 3 ½ blocks all commercial. Like to see AP become city of entertainment.
Duanne Small - June 28 cousin is in major game, would you like to buy tickets I’d like to see council there.
Werner B - - right of way, I don’t hv a prob with that, you should have. One of public assets you’re charged with is protecting public space. Point is it’s illegal, there’s no personal right for a private property owner to build outside his property line. For you to allow that to happen is a disservice to the community. Part of beauty of AP is its design. Everytime allow bld outside property line encroaching on the public neighborhood’s value. Bell goes off, keeps beeping unlike with the union workers.
Small is back w/ the tickets.
Gerry Scarano –
Thinking about greeters at the train station cd be handing out emails / cd hv [“Charlie”? Trolley?] Take people from train to beach/ those people could get emails about events.
Council business
Reidy:
Liquor license transfer fast lane to 208 bond st, app’d by police dept. ---all yes
700 Emory St. Teretha Jones to 700 cookman, Richard Yorkowitz/ 75% for food service.
$39, 800,000 Budget introduced – State gov not announcing yet any of monies to special “Transitional Aid” to municipalities, we have to back into that, 2009 we got $10,500,000. But haven’t heard from Trenton so in this budget no aid is anticipated.
Some communities hav furloughed employees, we’ve had no raises in 3 yrs in AP
A.R. checked with payroll. No one has received a raise in AP since 2007. This includes City Manager Terry Reidy. AR is checking with Reidy to see if he declined contractually agreed to increases over these years.
Public Comment June meeting following mtg passage.
Working w/ people who wanted to retire but couldn’t, $350k of people retiring now. Is included in this budget and w/ be felt next yr.
Aggressive generating add’l revenue/ million more in combo of rev and cost savings.
Estab pkg ulity - it made in receipts $275k for 2009
Beach rev in 2009? [ Waiting response from Giberson.]
Revenue from Police dep and court, over $1mn, represents a half million jump
According to governor, Effective May 22, any muni that doen’t hv contracts where employees pay their benefits, employees w/ be req’d to pay 2.5% toward benefits
Ambulance billing up $400k over prior year.
O/T gone down/ depending on state aid w/ hv to lk at more cuts.
Horizon gave us 31% increase for employee health benefits next yr/ retirees, too, there’s already $1.5mn increase in 2010
Pension 2009 – deferred contribution to pension plan, $1.7m, is back in budget this yr. So that’s somewhat out of city’s control.
Revenues have gone down from all other state aid, energy aid, homeland security, utility aid decreased by $1.2Mn.
UEZ aid gone down
Pilot (abatements) adjusted down so payments down in 2010.
Just a snapshot of what city is facing and what we’ve tried to do.
One thing is clr isn’t one city in state of NJ that can solve rev shortages by themselves. Seriously considering consolidating services. AP appears to be only city going to Trenton to decide how this is being considered.
Impact of not having $10 mn means tax rate w/ double, but that won’t happen, because w/ likely get some State aid. If we fail to introduce the budget then we can’t be eligible for state aid.
All voted to introduce.
Agreement between city and MM –
John Loffredto - Q – wk needed to be done on CH, who signs off on that? I was part of all of that going to Trenton, when do we say this is enough?
TR – nothing in original agreement MM is required to complete. Hv to meet all the codes allow bldg to open/ restoring to what it was in 30s not a requirement.
Bruno – apologized to Werner B/ taken 2 yrs to get this done, times are tough we have to get this done/ I vote yes.
All yes
Resolution to approve grant from Ford Fdn – all yes
Move boat rentals to Sunset lake – all yes
Sewer - appr’d,
Budget – resolution – state req’d City to introduce city budget on April 30th. The state appr’d extension but needed this resolution stating we didn’t introduce it on time.
Taylor Bros - $18,000. A.R. waiting for clarification from City on purpose of payment.
Adjourned
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
City Gives Residents Till May 19th to Review Boardwalk Agreement
City Council Meeting May 5, 2010 --
City Gives Residents Till May 19th to Review Boardwalk Agreement
Reporters’ Notebook - UPDATED MAY 6, 2010, 11 am Link to PPT of Agreement below
Present – Deputy Mayor John Loffredo, Mayor Ed Johnson, Councilmember Jim Bruno
Councilmember Susan Henderson will join for attend the public portion of the mtg
Former Mayor Kevin Sanders is absent
Don Sammet -
Appr’l hazardous site remediation service (HSRS) and State Economic Development Corp. gave app’l for funding eligibility / covers Sp’wd parcels, if find $86k grant from county open spaces program/ Prior to freeholders executing …
Third contract, assessment sp’wd parcel at Dewitt, 16 units, to break ground in July, all be covered by HSRS mediation fund should haz waste be found/ we put money out first then paid back, one of few munis in state, eligible for total of $15mn over 5 yrs/ for assessments and envir things such as
Opens space grant program is the $86k //[Note: not sure if city w/ be liable for $. Sammet was facing council, back toward audience, so voice was faint toward back of room.]
This time next yr have sp’wd commons and sp’d center
Asbury Shores deed will be filed again t’w so we own prop again///a legal process re. change of name
Tom Gilmour –
Commerce Comm. Special events vendor funding AP Jazz Festival, changes to contract, Ruth Ann Harrison’s event company, RUE, 5% is the norm for the industry. I’m comfortable with that.
Mayor – so this co will raise all funds to produce the mayor’s jazz festival, pay insurance, police, city w/ pay no promo or event fees/ all profits will go to vendor. Harrison is present.
State has changed resolution of am’t to UEZ
Special Events: Frank Furley (?)
Reidy, Terry, City Mgr – wnt to go bk to RUE, represents a chg in way this being done/ when I came to AP, festival was being funded by city at rate min. $20k, spent by city to put on festival. Chill out jazz series, Luckinbill concerts series $14k, was paid by city monies. Now no city $ w/ be spend to pay for any of those events. Mkt, produce all w/ be raised by RUE. Difference in way we’re doing business in 2010.
Terms and condition of redevelopers agreement between Madison Asbury LLC (Madison Marquette - entity is now MA Retail) and city, not voting on tonight so we can see it/ Vote on May 19th. Copy available at clerk’s office
Tom Hastie of McManimon & Scotland, City's redevelopment atty for waterfront: subsequent developers agreement
Includes project security, meaningful default provisions, project deadlines and other terms.
See Power Point presentation here. Note, some references in the reporters' notebook should be checked against this ppt file, especially toward end when the slides were more detailed and there was less time to transcribe.
Project security retailers $30mn net worth be sustained, never fall belo $10mn, maintained by Madison Retail any wk started w/ be finished, $? "The Cure Clock, Completion Guaranty, Performance Escrow of $500,000 to be deposited with City."
15 – 100 days to cure, if fail, resets, if fail then another 15 days, if no cure w/in, all w/ take action legally/ lot of wk be done w/ borrowed money, language dealing with bank’s failure to cure…128 days to …agreement.
Reidy – one of major concerns in past has been if dev doesn’t do what supposed to what can city do…a mjor point. This removes arbitration
Hastie – agre structure w/ clrly defined obligations, reduces time frames, agre not, you're right, no arbitration / so this speeds along
TR – higher levels of accountability more specificity
TH – yes
TR – cure periods…go to MM, if not Asbury Partners, and end w/ the lender/ five lender opps to come in and cure what others cdn’t/
TH – when gets to lender, if lender decides to wlk, agreement w/ be terminated if city wants, foreclosure action becomes issue bez vendor has an interest but / gives them 128 days to rejigger proj/ if they’re in foreclosure prob some discussions goingon/
TR – enough time for legitimate sol but not draggin on forever
TH – we’ve eliminated the delays
First Av Pavilion – compledted w/ existing pln bd app’ls / a competition, funded by MA retail w/ be held to program the ocean ave exterior wall wi/ an art feature, subject o the app’l of the plan bd.
Third Ave Pav
Already have Right to demolish pavilion under cafra permit
4th Ave Pav –
LLC’s offices in there / will make better looking, by 2012 w/ consolidate and reorganize max retail spac, MARetail whv the right ot demolish this bldg due to pre existing non conformance
5th Av Pav
See below from slides:
•Band Shell: Will be redesigned and cost estimated by the end of 2010.
–If the cost estimates to undertake the redesign are in excess of $600,000, MA Retail will have 30 months from Planning Board Approval to complete.
–If the cost estimate is below $600,000, MA Retail will have 18 months from Planning Board Approval to complete.
See ppt for add'l on 5th Pav
Sunset Ave Pav
w/likely be torn down/ at end of five yrs if mkt does not support the reconstruction of a prj at site the city w/ hv opton to pur property at fair mkt value. [Note: As per what year w/ value be fixed?]
Convention Hall – fire systems w/ be brought up to code, handrails for beach stairs/ per Plan Bd, before MA Retial can be granted a Cert of Completion on that project
Casino, power plan not included, economy made difficult, not feasible, peel back scope of agreement/ if buyer wants to dev and has money. Done wk on Casino house, activity there w/ continue. [NOTE: North end of boardwalk excluded from this agreement. Only goes to Green Space immediately north of Convention Hall. Hastie says North End plans expected to go ahead, deferred us to Reidy.]
Green Acre Parcels – agreement req the return of fee simple title to the green acre prop imprerly transferred and the restating of the 99 yr lease
Convention Hall and Casino easements/ the pub easements though the casino con hall arcades w/ be formalized/ 20 ft wide w/ follow three templates. See plan
They hav flex to do these three things, outside of that has to apply to city.
Arcade has to be open longer during warm months, etc
Bdwlk Redeveloper’s Agreement –
Encroachment –
Bandshell need add’l contruct on outside south of bdg, staircase, on side/ ramps to be renovated
Beach clubs – orig said pub has to be constructed first/ now...
•Beach clubs. "The existing requirement that a public beach club be constructed first will be changed. A private beach club, if constructed, will trigger an obligation to construct the public beach club within 18 months of the private beach club being finished. The existing splash park will satisfy the requirement of a kiddie pool under the existing agreement."
MA Retail has to contribute $250k per yr
Operator subsidy of between $100k and…
$150k w/ be avilabe to offset public safety
•"Operating subsidy of between $100,000 and $150,000 a year to cover increased costs of Boardwalk (policing, public safety and public health).
•Capital contribution of between $100,000 and $150,000 per year to undertake Boardwalk related capital projects at direction of City.
•MA Retail will be required to make annual payments to the City from the effective date of this Agreement until a certificate of completion for all Boardwalk Projects, including the Casino and Power Plant.
•$150,000 will be available to offset public safety and public health costs at the Boardwalk. Up to $50,000 of this money may, at the option of the City, be transferred to fund smaller capital projects undertaken at the direction of the City."
Menu items, new lifeguard facility…ADA compliant modular restroom facility on the 4th ave green space/ other capital projects on bdwlk to benfit city
City gets $150k a yr,
TR – if proj is a capital improvement, costs $100k, if turns out costs $120k, funded in 2010, in 2011 the am’t wd drop to $80k
See actual agreement for specific details. Copies available from Clerk.
Henderson here now – Sculpture tour ar’d town
Mayor – 2 events: 11 AM t’w Asbury Wks having info center for residents contractors interested in wkg on city projects, see below o this blog.
Sat 10 am reconvene Trnsprtion Subcommitte, rock garden under construction, art project
Items from executive – Contct between city and RUE and Frank Hurley—
TR – Happy Cinco de Mayo
Public Portion –
Andy Pawlin – ARTscap rep
Thank chmbr uez mmarq, council for con’td support/ arts in ap only enhances city culture and good for biz. Sculp Tour, SICA been conducting for lst 3 summers, major outdr sculptures all ar’d LB, posters, all up early may to late oct. this yr partnering w/ ArtsCAP, regional, local, nat’l artists, kick off this Sat. one site transportation building, green spc at cookman and main, kennedy park – furniture w/ grass and edible plants, major medal pieces Wesley lake, carousel, the gravel, MM offered them/ 2 on bdwk, one median strip second av by pony and 4th ave by median strip.
TR – manikin is interactive pc, artist shows up ea Sunday, put debris from beach, artists shows up and puts it on the maikin.
AP – metal lobster on langosta, two giant cloves of garlic on trinity and the pope.
Scultures may 7 – oct 18th, kick off 5- 7 saturady at Trinity and Pope/ $20 charge at dr/ hot and cold appetizers and signature drink/ open bar .
Joyce Stolaroff – last yr’s plan for retaining outdoor seating wk
rob lavinski – plan for reviatilzation of CBD, met hr and half w/ TR, very patient w/ us. My concern is that distruction – clear cutting – of every tree doesn’t make sense. Lks like a shopping mall not an historic district/ not easy to retain trees, not pass their prime, important canopy, don’t wnt cookie cutter plan, hometown in Newton, Mass, people make massive reconstruct w/out tearing down every tree/ more time effort and money, but keep as a cohesive community, don’t mk into a decisive issue. Not saying no trees come downl..pls tk time to mk it/ I’ll put up personal money…change w/ destroy char for many years to come… (applause)
Rita Marano – 808 Main St very quiet until this week/ how did we get that immigration place on main st., how did country
Mayor – center for immigration studies
Marano - How were we selected?
Mayor – guess hv to ask the organization/ they lk’d at LB, Freehold, AP large Hispanic populations, it was their own choice. We didn’t solicit/
Bruno – We didn’t solicit?
Mayor – No we didn’t
Marano - (?) told me he got letr from mayor and previous governor
Mayor – I did write a letter… I’m fully supportive of the services we need for significant part of our population they provide. Sort of if you decide to move into AP how do we tell u u can’t.
Marano – I’m going to show you the list of all the not-for-profits in this town. You’d be amazed…
Mayor – I know how many there are and how the list is going down.
Gregory Schwartz – Stone Pony, support the trees, willing personal resources / applause
Paul Calahan- 705 Grand Ave – lend voice to support trees, thought it was a joke, tearing down every tree in downtown w/ e horrible, horrible mistake, pls reconsider /applause/
Payroll Apr 1 to 15 - $1,319,000.
Special event applications – all app’d
Zoning bd open positions – 2/ planning bd 2 – open
RUE – spec events production and management - all yes
Ordinance – temp emerg approp///$4,680,000/ beach utility?, pkg utility $500,000 – all yes
Lewis Environmental – 3 contracts – all app’d
App to UEZNJ for assistance 2011 budget $103,200 – all yes
Handicapped ord w/ be heard next wek
Dogs on beach ordinance
George Kary – who w/ be liable if someone gets bit? Specified hours,
FRaffetto – owner respons
TReidy – just like a city street
GK – shd first do census of how many dogs in town/ sculptures I got a few on my front lawn from these dogs. Shd consider raising dog license fees/ more and more dogs u hv and doing business all over town. Property owner gotta clean it all up/ maybe should stop licenses for anymore dogs. Mr Bruno got bit by one. Allowing on bch and bdwlk jst contributing to situation.
FR – ordinance any and all Oct 1st thru April 30th
Discussion
John Loffredo – can’t disagree w/ what George says because you know where I stand, I got an email past week, saying we shd allow dogs all the time, but I hv to thnk that where are we going to go w/ this and what about the enforcement/ when I’m sitting in Stella Marina and two little dogs are peeing on bdwlk I don’t like that. Even the bicycles, but not going to raise that now/ has to come a pt where cops can’t handle it…hv to ask how we’re going to deal w/ all of it.
SH – Ocean Grove has it allowed same dates we have. Don’t blame the dogs, irresponsible owners, yes, but they should be charged fines. Raise license fee fine. Chk for licensing even in our own neighborhoods.
Mayor – in my never ending search for alternate revenue certainly agree hav to revisit licensing and attn getting fines, sure shd lk at that, proper enforcement/ came across some dog owners who wd’ve kept right on going / one town used crossing guards during off hrs, identify dogs and licenses, increased rev in their town 50%.
TR- mst dog owners pk up after their dogs, I hav 3 and pick up after them. That’s why we have dog stations [note – we need more of them.] really comes down to dogs going to dump when they need to dump, it’s up to people to pick it up.
Move to adopt – all yes.
Motion to Adjourn
City Gives Residents Till May 19th to Review Boardwalk Agreement
Reporters’ Notebook - UPDATED MAY 6, 2010, 11 am Link to PPT of Agreement below
Present – Deputy Mayor John Loffredo, Mayor Ed Johnson, Councilmember Jim Bruno
Councilmember Susan Henderson will join for attend the public portion of the mtg
Former Mayor Kevin Sanders is absent
Don Sammet -
Appr’l hazardous site remediation service (HSRS) and State Economic Development Corp. gave app’l for funding eligibility / covers Sp’wd parcels, if find $86k grant from county open spaces program/ Prior to freeholders executing …
Third contract, assessment sp’wd parcel at Dewitt, 16 units, to break ground in July, all be covered by HSRS mediation fund should haz waste be found/ we put money out first then paid back, one of few munis in state, eligible for total of $15mn over 5 yrs/ for assessments and envir things such as
Opens space grant program is the $86k //[Note: not sure if city w/ be liable for $. Sammet was facing council, back toward audience, so voice was faint toward back of room.]
This time next yr have sp’wd commons and sp’d center
Asbury Shores deed will be filed again t’w so we own prop again///a legal process re. change of name
Tom Gilmour –
Commerce Comm. Special events vendor funding AP Jazz Festival, changes to contract, Ruth Ann Harrison’s event company, RUE, 5% is the norm for the industry. I’m comfortable with that.
Mayor – so this co will raise all funds to produce the mayor’s jazz festival, pay insurance, police, city w/ pay no promo or event fees/ all profits will go to vendor. Harrison is present.
State has changed resolution of am’t to UEZ
Special Events: Frank Furley (?)
Reidy, Terry, City Mgr – wnt to go bk to RUE, represents a chg in way this being done/ when I came to AP, festival was being funded by city at rate min. $20k, spent by city to put on festival. Chill out jazz series, Luckinbill concerts series $14k, was paid by city monies. Now no city $ w/ be spend to pay for any of those events. Mkt, produce all w/ be raised by RUE. Difference in way we’re doing business in 2010.
Terms and condition of redevelopers agreement between Madison Asbury LLC (Madison Marquette - entity is now MA Retail) and city, not voting on tonight so we can see it/ Vote on May 19th. Copy available at clerk’s office
Tom Hastie of McManimon & Scotland, City's redevelopment atty for waterfront: subsequent developers agreement
Includes project security, meaningful default provisions, project deadlines and other terms.
See Power Point presentation here. Note, some references in the reporters' notebook should be checked against this ppt file, especially toward end when the slides were more detailed and there was less time to transcribe.
Project security retailers $30mn net worth be sustained, never fall belo $10mn, maintained by Madison Retail any wk started w/ be finished, $? "The Cure Clock, Completion Guaranty, Performance Escrow of $500,000 to be deposited with City."
15 – 100 days to cure, if fail, resets, if fail then another 15 days, if no cure w/in, all w/ take action legally/ lot of wk be done w/ borrowed money, language dealing with bank’s failure to cure…128 days to …agreement.
Reidy – one of major concerns in past has been if dev doesn’t do what supposed to what can city do…a mjor point. This removes arbitration
Hastie – agre structure w/ clrly defined obligations, reduces time frames, agre not, you're right, no arbitration / so this speeds along
TR – higher levels of accountability more specificity
TH – yes
TR – cure periods…go to MM, if not Asbury Partners, and end w/ the lender/ five lender opps to come in and cure what others cdn’t/
TH – when gets to lender, if lender decides to wlk, agreement w/ be terminated if city wants, foreclosure action becomes issue bez vendor has an interest but / gives them 128 days to rejigger proj/ if they’re in foreclosure prob some discussions goingon/
TR – enough time for legitimate sol but not draggin on forever
TH – we’ve eliminated the delays
First Av Pavilion – compledted w/ existing pln bd app’ls / a competition, funded by MA retail w/ be held to program the ocean ave exterior wall wi/ an art feature, subject o the app’l of the plan bd.
Third Ave Pav
Already have Right to demolish pavilion under cafra permit
4th Ave Pav –
LLC’s offices in there / will make better looking, by 2012 w/ consolidate and reorganize max retail spac, MARetail whv the right ot demolish this bldg due to pre existing non conformance
5th Av Pav
See below from slides:
•Band Shell: Will be redesigned and cost estimated by the end of 2010.
–If the cost estimates to undertake the redesign are in excess of $600,000, MA Retail will have 30 months from Planning Board Approval to complete.
–If the cost estimate is below $600,000, MA Retail will have 18 months from Planning Board Approval to complete.
See ppt for add'l on 5th Pav
Sunset Ave Pav
w/likely be torn down/ at end of five yrs if mkt does not support the reconstruction of a prj at site the city w/ hv opton to pur property at fair mkt value. [Note: As per what year w/ value be fixed?]
Convention Hall – fire systems w/ be brought up to code, handrails for beach stairs/ per Plan Bd, before MA Retial can be granted a Cert of Completion on that project
Casino, power plan not included, economy made difficult, not feasible, peel back scope of agreement/ if buyer wants to dev and has money. Done wk on Casino house, activity there w/ continue. [NOTE: North end of boardwalk excluded from this agreement. Only goes to Green Space immediately north of Convention Hall. Hastie says North End plans expected to go ahead, deferred us to Reidy.]
Green Acre Parcels – agreement req the return of fee simple title to the green acre prop imprerly transferred and the restating of the 99 yr lease
Convention Hall and Casino easements/ the pub easements though the casino con hall arcades w/ be formalized/ 20 ft wide w/ follow three templates. See plan
They hav flex to do these three things, outside of that has to apply to city.
Arcade has to be open longer during warm months, etc
Bdwlk Redeveloper’s Agreement –
Encroachment –
Bandshell need add’l contruct on outside south of bdg, staircase, on side/ ramps to be renovated
Beach clubs – orig said pub has to be constructed first/ now...
•Beach clubs. "The existing requirement that a public beach club be constructed first will be changed. A private beach club, if constructed, will trigger an obligation to construct the public beach club within 18 months of the private beach club being finished. The existing splash park will satisfy the requirement of a kiddie pool under the existing agreement."
MA Retail has to contribute $250k per yr
Operator subsidy of between $100k and…
$150k w/ be avilabe to offset public safety
•"Operating subsidy of between $100,000 and $150,000 a year to cover increased costs of Boardwalk (policing, public safety and public health).
•Capital contribution of between $100,000 and $150,000 per year to undertake Boardwalk related capital projects at direction of City.
•MA Retail will be required to make annual payments to the City from the effective date of this Agreement until a certificate of completion for all Boardwalk Projects, including the Casino and Power Plant.
•$150,000 will be available to offset public safety and public health costs at the Boardwalk. Up to $50,000 of this money may, at the option of the City, be transferred to fund smaller capital projects undertaken at the direction of the City."
Menu items, new lifeguard facility…ADA compliant modular restroom facility on the 4th ave green space/ other capital projects on bdwlk to benfit city
City gets $150k a yr,
TR – if proj is a capital improvement, costs $100k, if turns out costs $120k, funded in 2010, in 2011 the am’t wd drop to $80k
See actual agreement for specific details. Copies available from Clerk.
Henderson here now – Sculpture tour ar’d town
Mayor – 2 events: 11 AM t’w Asbury Wks having info center for residents contractors interested in wkg on city projects, see below o this blog.
Sat 10 am reconvene Trnsprtion Subcommitte, rock garden under construction, art project
Items from executive – Contct between city and RUE and Frank Hurley—
TR – Happy Cinco de Mayo
Public Portion –
Andy Pawlin – ARTscap rep
Thank chmbr uez mmarq, council for con’td support/ arts in ap only enhances city culture and good for biz. Sculp Tour, SICA been conducting for lst 3 summers, major outdr sculptures all ar’d LB, posters, all up early may to late oct. this yr partnering w/ ArtsCAP, regional, local, nat’l artists, kick off this Sat. one site transportation building, green spc at cookman and main, kennedy park – furniture w/ grass and edible plants, major medal pieces Wesley lake, carousel, the gravel, MM offered them/ 2 on bdwk, one median strip second av by pony and 4th ave by median strip.
TR – manikin is interactive pc, artist shows up ea Sunday, put debris from beach, artists shows up and puts it on the maikin.
AP – metal lobster on langosta, two giant cloves of garlic on trinity and the pope.
Scultures may 7 – oct 18th, kick off 5- 7 saturady at Trinity and Pope/ $20 charge at dr/ hot and cold appetizers and signature drink/ open bar .
Joyce Stolaroff – last yr’s plan for retaining outdoor seating wk
rob lavinski – plan for reviatilzation of CBD, met hr and half w/ TR, very patient w/ us. My concern is that distruction – clear cutting – of every tree doesn’t make sense. Lks like a shopping mall not an historic district/ not easy to retain trees, not pass their prime, important canopy, don’t wnt cookie cutter plan, hometown in Newton, Mass, people make massive reconstruct w/out tearing down every tree/ more time effort and money, but keep as a cohesive community, don’t mk into a decisive issue. Not saying no trees come downl..pls tk time to mk it/ I’ll put up personal money…change w/ destroy char for many years to come… (applause)
Rita Marano – 808 Main St very quiet until this week/ how did we get that immigration place on main st., how did country
Mayor – center for immigration studies
Marano - How were we selected?
Mayor – guess hv to ask the organization/ they lk’d at LB, Freehold, AP large Hispanic populations, it was their own choice. We didn’t solicit/
Bruno – We didn’t solicit?
Mayor – No we didn’t
Marano - (?) told me he got letr from mayor and previous governor
Mayor – I did write a letter… I’m fully supportive of the services we need for significant part of our population they provide. Sort of if you decide to move into AP how do we tell u u can’t.
Marano – I’m going to show you the list of all the not-for-profits in this town. You’d be amazed…
Mayor – I know how many there are and how the list is going down.
Gregory Schwartz – Stone Pony, support the trees, willing personal resources / applause
Paul Calahan- 705 Grand Ave – lend voice to support trees, thought it was a joke, tearing down every tree in downtown w/ e horrible, horrible mistake, pls reconsider /applause/
Payroll Apr 1 to 15 - $1,319,000.
Special event applications – all app’d
Zoning bd open positions – 2/ planning bd 2 – open
RUE – spec events production and management - all yes
Ordinance – temp emerg approp///$4,680,000/ beach utility?, pkg utility $500,000 – all yes
Lewis Environmental – 3 contracts – all app’d
App to UEZNJ for assistance 2011 budget $103,200 – all yes
Handicapped ord w/ be heard next wek
Dogs on beach ordinance
George Kary – who w/ be liable if someone gets bit? Specified hours,
FRaffetto – owner respons
TReidy – just like a city street
GK – shd first do census of how many dogs in town/ sculptures I got a few on my front lawn from these dogs. Shd consider raising dog license fees/ more and more dogs u hv and doing business all over town. Property owner gotta clean it all up/ maybe should stop licenses for anymore dogs. Mr Bruno got bit by one. Allowing on bch and bdwlk jst contributing to situation.
FR – ordinance any and all Oct 1st thru April 30th
Discussion
John Loffredo – can’t disagree w/ what George says because you know where I stand, I got an email past week, saying we shd allow dogs all the time, but I hv to thnk that where are we going to go w/ this and what about the enforcement/ when I’m sitting in Stella Marina and two little dogs are peeing on bdwlk I don’t like that. Even the bicycles, but not going to raise that now/ has to come a pt where cops can’t handle it…hv to ask how we’re going to deal w/ all of it.
SH – Ocean Grove has it allowed same dates we have. Don’t blame the dogs, irresponsible owners, yes, but they should be charged fines. Raise license fee fine. Chk for licensing even in our own neighborhoods.
Mayor – in my never ending search for alternate revenue certainly agree hav to revisit licensing and attn getting fines, sure shd lk at that, proper enforcement/ came across some dog owners who wd’ve kept right on going / one town used crossing guards during off hrs, identify dogs and licenses, increased rev in their town 50%.
TR- mst dog owners pk up after their dogs, I hav 3 and pick up after them. That’s why we have dog stations [note – we need more of them.] really comes down to dogs going to dump when they need to dump, it’s up to people to pick it up.
Move to adopt – all yes.
Motion to Adjourn
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