Written on 15 November 2017.

20170524 Village Council Work Session Minutes

A REGULAR WORK SESSION OF THE VILLAGE COUNCIL OF THE VILLAGE OF RIDGEWOOD HELD IN THE SYDNEY V. STOLDT, JR. COURT ROOM OF THE RIDGEWOOD VILLAGE HALL, 131 NORTH MAPLE AVENUE, RIDGEWOOD, NEW JERSEY ON MAY 24, 2017 AT 7:30 PM

CALL TO ORDER – OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT – ROLL CALL – FLAG SALUTE

Mayor Knudsen called the meeting to order at 7:32 P.M. and read the Statement of Compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act. At roll call, the following were present: Councilmembers Hache, Sedon, Voigt, Walsh, and Mayor Knudsen. Also present were Heather Mailander, Village Manager/Village Clerk; Matthew Rogers, Village Attorney; and Donna M. Jackson, Deputy Clerk.

Mayor Knudsen led those in attendance in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag and held a Moment of Silence for all the men and women serving our nation and all first responders.

COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC

Mayor Knudsen asked if there were any comments or questions from the public; however, there were none.

Councilman Sedon moved to suspend the Work Session and convene a Special Public Meeting. Councilwoman Walsh seconded the motion.

Roll Call Vote

AYES: Councilmembers Hache, Sedon, Voigt, Walsh, and Mayor Knudsen

NAYS: None

ABSENT: None

ABSTAIN: None

SPECIAL PUBLIC MEETING - SEE SEPARATE MINUTES

Councilwoman Walsh moved to adjourn the special meeting and reconvene the Work Session. Councilman Sedon seconded the motion.

Roll Call Vote

AYES: Councilmembers Hache, Sedon, Voigt, Walsh, and Mayor Knudsen

NAYS: None

ABSENT: None

ABSTAIN: None

PRESENTATION
Financial Advisory Committee (FAC)- Amend Various Fees and Fines

FAC Committee member Alex Kisilevich described tonight’s Power Point Presentation as a sample review of Village Fees, that was done at the request of the Village Manager and completed earlier this year. No action or serious consideration is required of the Village Council at this time.

The FAC made the following three observations:

the majority of fees, with few exceptions, are outdated by 10 or more years;
a small sample of fees were below those of a sample of similar municipalities; and
the Village can potentially improve its bottom line by eliminating fees that produce inconsequential revenues and do not cover the costs of administering them.

The FAC recommend a process enhancement that was more systematic, going forward.

Mr. Kisilevich stated that Chapter 145 of the Village Code contains over 600 line items of various fees. Many types of fees are not set by the Village, e.g., liquor license fees. The FAC only reviewed items that are set by ordinances and so can be changed by the Village Council.

Mr. Kisilevich explained the approach used by the FAC to prepare the fee analysis, as follows:

identify revenue categories that “matter” to the bottom line, i.e., collections that exceed $50,000 per annum;
whenever possible, disaggregate a category to select 1-2 types of fees;
attempt to compare the selected fees with corresponding fees in three comparator towns; and
if no comparison was possible, pick another category. (Mr. Kisilevich noted that there was a remarkable lack of uniformity between the fees charged by municipalities.)

Mr. Kisilevich explained a displayed chart that illustrated a comparison of selected fees between New Jersey municipalities that were of similar size and similar socioeconomic make-up as Ridgewood. These municipalities included Red Bank, Montclair, and Summit. Ridgewood was the second highest municipality for Restaurant License Fees; the lowest municipality for Food Vendor License Fees, Overtime Parking Meter Fines, Police Alarm Fees, and Sidewalk Café License Fees; and the third highest municipality for Landscaper Permit Fees. The FAC concluded that Ridgewood’s fees were below average and that it was time to review the fees to bring them up-to-date.

Mayor Knudsen felt it would be helpful to have a detailed example of a fee comparison, instead of comparisons based on averages.

The FAC made the following observations:

in a decidedly small sample of fees and municipalities, Ridgewood’s fees are below average;
in general, Ridgewood’s fees are outdated, with several set in the early 1990’s;
certain fees are inconsistent, for example, the Farmer’s Market annual license fee is $50 set in 2001, while a 1-day food vendor permit fee is $25 set in 1994;
some fees are just obviously too low, given how much it costs to administer them; for example, the $5 Garage Sale Permit fee (Mr. Kisilevich noted that this fee does allow the Village to know how often a garage sale is held on a specific property to avoid residential properties becoming storefronts. He suggested a graduated fee scale.);
there is a $.50 bicycle registration fee that has not been enforced in decades;
it appears Chapter 112 of the Village Code is obsolete; and
the fee schedule is difficult to navigate; some fees may not be collected or paid simply because residents don’t know they exist (Mr. Kisilevich suggested creating a database to make these fees easily searchable).

Mr. Kisilevich asked for an opportunity to meet with Department Heads over the next 12-18 months and to conduct a comprehensive review of fees that matter. Mr. Kisilevich noted that all departments will not be effected as some departments, such as the Building Department and the Water Department, are in good shape. The FAC recommends updating fees using the following principles:

Cost recovery - A fee for specific goods/service should not be set below the amount needed for cost recovery
Regulatory - Certain fees may have to be maintained below the cost-recovery levels. This applies to activities that the Village wants to monitor and/or regulate, but cannot be fully reimbursed
Market - Selected fees where the Village competes with other municipalities should be set vis-à-vis those municipalities

The FAC recommends eliminating fees that are inconsequential. The FAC also recommends reviewing all fees periodically, e.g., every 5 years, to ensure that they are still consistent with the principles listed above. Alternatively, fee adjustments could be tied to inflation or the rate of change in the median property tax.

Councilman Sedon thanked Mr. Kisilevich for his presentation. Councilman Sedon asked Mr. Kisilevich to provide the Councilmembers with the detailed spreadsheet that was used for the comparisons.

Councilwoman Walsh thanked Mr. Kisilevich for his presentation. She suggested that some of the fees, such as the bicycle fee, could be handled on-line through Community Pass. Councilwoman Walsh noted that Ridgewood fees are very close to fees charged by the town of Summit. She suggested that their fees may need to be updated, as well.

Mayor Knudsen stated her appreciation for Mr. Kisilevich’s presentation. She recalled that the Building Department fees were updated in 2015. Mayor Knudsen also recalled when the overtime parking meter fine was raised from $19 to $25. Mayor Knudsen stated that she was very sensitive to the public’s perception that this represented an added tax. Mr. Kisilevich agreed; however, he noted that this “tax” effects a specific user, not everyone.

Village Manager Heather Mailander stated that the Department Heads will be reviewing their departments’ fees to determine which ones are outdated or no longer needed, and ones that could be increased to bring these fees more in line with other municipalities.

DISCUSSION:

Ridgewood Water

None

Parking
Discussion of Proposed Parking Garage

Mayor Knudsen explained that representatives of Pike Development Company, the developers for the proposed parking garage on Hudson Street, have completed additional design work based on input from residents and Councilmembers. Using a Power Point Presentation, Mayor Knudsen explained that a top corner piece was raised above the stairwell and elevator, bringing it above the height of the rest of the building. Additionally, window spaces were reduced, and could be reduced further to a size as small as possible without requiring any automated ventilation system. Permanent awnings were added to the streetscape. Since these awnings are permanent and are not retractable, they will be able to sustain any snowfall or other weather conditions. Flower boxes, containing ivy, will be added to provide greenery. The name “Hudson Street Garage” was added over the arched windows. The façade was changed to brick all around the building to provide continuity. The brick face on the first panel on the north and east facing walls will provide a more esthetically pleasing view for motorists traveling along Hudson Street and Broad Street.

Councilman Hache pointed out that the vertical accents on the Broad Street side will be placed along the Hudson Street side, as well.

Mayor Knudsen noted that the representatives from Pike Development Company also made a presentation at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, because the church is the most impacted and closest neighbor to the garage. Councilman Hache added that concerns were raised about the disruption the garage could bring to the church. However, everyone was pleased with the increase in on-street parking spaces; the fact that the garage fit within the lot, so no sidewalk space was lost; and that the direction of traffic on Hudson Street and Passaic Street will not be impacted.

Mayor Knudsen pointed out that the garage opening is currently at the easternmost point of the garage. There is an option available that would allow the garage opening on the east facing wall, with access from the right-of-way between the garage and the next adjacent building. This will allow vehicles to que up on the right-of-way rather than backing up traffic on Hudson Street. This design will also allow the awnings to continue down, creating a consistent face on the entire side of the structure.

Councilman Voigt questioned the cost increase related to these changes. Councilman Hache explained that factoring in a construction cost of approximately $8 million and wrapping the brick face around the structure at a cost of approximately $560,000, would bring the cost of the garage construction to approximately $9 million. Mayor Knudsen spoke of the importance of being mindful of how the garage fits in with the streetscape and the surrounding buildings. She pointed out that the design included the statue by Paterson sculptor Gaetano Federici that was over the door of the original Village Hall building previously located on this site. This statue is currently in storage.

Councilman Hache pointed out that the stairwells will contain windows and will be lit for safety reasons.

Councilman Sedon felt the amended design was an improvement. Since the size, height, footprint and number of parking spaces has been determined, a clearer cost comparison can now be made to help decide which aesthetic improvements will be added.

Councilwoman Walsh appreciated the new design. She asked for additional information from the developer concerning other garages they have constructed, as well as more information on the lifespan of the concrete and the maintenance required to increase this lifespan from 15 years to 30 years. Councilman Voigt also requested an estimate on the cost of this maintenance. Ms. Mailander stated that she will contact the developer and request this information. Mayor Knudsen pointed out that this design modification process has not cost the Village any money.

Under the request of Councilwoman Walsh, Ms. Mailander stated that she will discuss the need for a sinking fund considering the projected lifespan of the parking garage.

Train Station - New Parking

Ms. Mailander explained that based on the request of the Village Council, Village Engineer Christopher Rutishauser has redesigned the Train Station parking lot with wider spaces for cars. The reduction in the number of additional spaces created will be from 41 spaces to 35 spaces. Key points of the design are as follows:

the 35 parking spaces will be for compact cars, but will have ample room to open car doors;
the stall dimensions are 9’x16’ as compared to the usual Village parking space dimension of 9’x 20’;
the 90-degree parking stalls at the Train Station will be easier to plow when it snows;
the addition of new trees to offset those that would need to be removed at the Train Station and a center island with a sidewalk with trees similar to the Village Hall parking lot;
a minimum reconfiguration of the north side of the entrance to the Train Station parking lot;
a reduction in the aisle width from 24’ to 22’, since there is a lower vehicle turnover in a commuter parking lot as compared to a conventional parking lot;
implementation of this design may require amending the Village Code’s parking and design standards; and
the preliminary estimates suggest a cost of $145,000, including trees.

Ms. Mailander noted that once a resolution is approved, the Engineering Division will prepare bid documents for the work to be done.

Councilwoman Walsh noted that she parks her SUV in a 9’x15’ space in a parking garage, so the 9’ x 16’ proposed parking space size will be adequate.

Councilman Voigt questioned the maneuverability of vehicles in the Train Station, particularly because there are perpendicular spaces as opposed to angled spaces. Mr. Rutishauser explained that it is harder to back out of angled spaces. Since the aisle has a one-way circulation, the proposed 22’ aisle width is an ample lane width, as compared to the standard 24’ width for two-way circulation.

Councilman Voigt suggested consulting a parking lot design expert before approving the design. Mr. Rutishauser felt the design was straight-forward. He will contact the State Historic Preservation Office, since the Train Station has been identified as an historic site. Comments from the State Historic Preservation Office must be taken into consideration.

Under questioning by Councilman Voigt, Mr. Rutishauser did not feel the State Historic Preservation Office will object to the reconfiguration of the island since they did not object when the Train Station was made ADA compliant six years ago.

Mayor Knudsen referred to the Registry for National Digital Asset Management, which indicated that the actual historic piece is the physical structure. The registry mentions greenspace located to the east of the platform, but does not make specific mention of the green area as being historic. The only mention of Garber Square specifically is that this is the location of the Train Station platform. The New Jersey documentation gives a detailed description of the site. These documents will be posted on the Village’s website.

Mayor Knudsen stated that at the May 18, 2017 meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission, there was a general sense expressed that as long as the landscaping is consistent, the plan to add additional parking spaces at the Train Station lot should be fine. Mr. Rutishauser noted that there are four, 3” to 4” diameter Linden Trees, and two, larger Pin Oak Trees at 24” in diameter. The smaller trees may be replantable, as they have been in the ground for only 5-6 years.

Under questioning by Councilman Voigt, Mr. Rutishauser explained that the 9’ parking stall width proposed is standard, and should not create problems for competent drivers.

Under questioning by Councilman Hache, Mr. Rutishauser stated that the 16’ length may not be long enough for extended-cab pick-up trucks; however, most of the vehicles using the commuter lot are shorter. The ordinance could include a stipulation that the center spaces should be utilized by smaller vehicles. Mayor Knudsen felt that signage would be appropriate.

The consensus of the Village Council was to move forward with this proposed design.

Budget
2017 Estimated Tax Rate

Ms. Mailander explained that this item calls for a resolution approving the issuance of estimated 2017 tax bills. By doing estimated bills, which are to be mailed no later than June 30^th, the Village is assured that the third quarterly tax payment due date will not have to be extended due to delays at the County level in certifying the Village’s tax rate. The total estimated levy is $145,608,114.77, resulting in an estimated tax rate of $2.516 per $100 of assessed value. Figures will be adjusted once the actual tax bill is available.

Hardware for E-Ticketing Software

Ms. Mailander explained that a price quote of $5,356.16 was received from CDW Government under State Contract, for the purchase of additional hardware, including four thermal printers, two that will be installed into patrol vehicles; one that will be installed in Police Headquarters for use during investigations and arrests; and one that will be used as a spare/back-up unit; as well as two printer stands and mounts, power adapters and charging stations, power converters, and a comprehensive extended warranty. Two barcode scanners with four, nine pin USB connectors are required to be purchased. The funding is available in the Capital Account.

Under questioning by Councilwoman Walsh, Ms. Mailander explained that a cost comparison between e-ticketing and paper ticketing is not yet available. However, she stated that within recent months, e-ticketing is saving time, as ticket inputting is no longer required. This cost comparison should be available within 6-8 months.

Award Second Year of Contract - Crossing Guard Services

Ms. Mailander recalled that last year, the Village Council decided to outsource crossing guard services. The sole bidder was All City Management Services. All City Management Services has successfully completed one year of service to the Village and are interested in renewing the contract for an additional year, in accordance with the provisions of the contract. All City Management Services has submitted written intent to do so. The projected cost for the coming year is $329,630.49, which represents an increase of approximately $29,500. The hourly rate is actually the same; however, the increase is due to additional crossing guard posts being added. Ms. Mailander noted that overall, during the school year, less than 10 posts had to be replaced by Police Officers or PEO’s, which is outstanding. The renewal of this contract is being recommended by the Police Department and the Village Engineer.

Under Councilwoman Walsh’s request, Ms. Mailander stated that she will obtain a report showing the advantages of outsourcing crossing guard services.

Under questioning by Councilman Sedon, Ms. Mailander stated that during the year before outsourcing began, the number of crossing guard posts that needed to be manned by Police Officers was very high, taking them away from their normal duties and reducing police response time. Ms. Mailander will obtain the exact figure.

The consensus of the Village Council was to move forward with renewing the contract for an additional year.

Funding for Addition of Name to World War I Memorial

Ms. Mailander explained that resident Christopher Stout has found a matching grant for restoration of World War I monuments. It is a 50/50 match. The name of Ridgewood resident Pfc. Anthonie J. Wendels is proposed to be added to the World War I Memorial Plaque. Ms. Mailander stated that the grant requires a letter from the Mayor stating that the Village has agreed to add the soldier’s name, to fund the cost of half of the work, and to provide upkeep and maintenance of the Memorial. This is a nationwide competition, so the funding is not guaranteed. However, Ms. Mailander felt it was worthwhile to pursue this grant.

Mayor Knudsen pointed out that Pfc. Anthonie J. Wendels’ name has already been added to the plaque. She commended Mr. Stout, residents Peggy Norris and Joseph Litkey, as well Susan Ferry of the plaque installation company, Village CFO Robert Rooney, Village Manager Heather Mailander, and researcher Stanley Kober for all their hard work.

Policy
Boards and Committees - Structures and By-Laws

Mayor Knudsen referred to a spread sheet she created which detailed items contained in the Structures and By-Law of Village Boards and Committees. Mayor Knudsen stated that she has reviewed the Structures and By-Laws of the Central Business District Advisory Committee (CBDAC) and the Community Access Network, and found both to be in order. Mayor Knudsen recommended that these two submissions be adopted by resolution at the next Village Council meeting.

Councilwoman Walsh asked that the draft forms of these structures and by-laws be posted on the Village’s website for the residents to review.

Ms. Mailander asked that all submissions be submitted no later than Wednesday, May 31^st, so they can be placed on the agenda for the June 7, 2017 Village Council Work Session.

Under questioning by Councilwoman Voigt, Councilman Sedon stated that he will research further into whether there are State standards that are followed by a Green Team.

Operations
Request for Resource Room at Gatehouse - Women Gardeners of Ridgewood

Ms. Mailander explained that the Women Gardeners of Ridgewood (WGR) have made an official request to both the Parks and Recreation Department and the Parks and Recreation and Conservation Board for permission to utilize one of the empty spaces on the second floor of the Gate House in Habernickel Park as a resource room. It is their intent to renovate this room, including new carpeting, a table and chairs, and several bookshelves to house all the historical items and informational periodicals pertaining to WGR. These printed materials, along with the knowledge and experience these women possess, would provide a valuable resource to the Village residents. The WGR will be responsible for the cost of all renovations. The new space will be open to the public once or twice a month and will serve as a place to work on a group project, prepare a garden design, complete research, and learn about nature. Members of WGR will be present to give advice during the time when the space is open to the public. The WGR will provide the appropriate certificate of liability insurance once official approval is received.

Ms. Mailander pointed out that the WGR have redesigned and currently maintain all the formal gardens at the Ridgewood Library, the Stable, Memorial Park at Van Neste Square, and the arboretum at Habernickel Park. WGR also partners in the offering of the Green Kids Program and the Holiday Wreath Workshop for Children, and are active participants in decorating the parks and Train Station during the holidays.

Ms. Mailander stated that both the professional staff and the members of the Parks, Recreation, and Conversation Board are in agreement that this new resource will be of value to the citizens of Ridgewood. Ms. Mailander felt this is a wonderful offer from a very talented group from the Village.

Councilman Hache felt this proposal was amazing and he considered it a great opportunity for the Village to expand the use and access of Habernickel Park to serve the broader community.

Mayor Knudsen expressed a concern with the impact of traffic and on-street parking, taking into account the current activities already taking place on the site.

Lisa Betancourt, Co-President, Women Gardeners of Ridgewood, explained that the room will not be open to the public during the times when the sports fields are busy. It will not be open on the weekend. The Women Gardeners will use the room to share their expertise with the public and to safely store reference materials and historical documents collected since the group’s founding in 1925. The Women Gardeners will take on the financial responsibility of refurbishing the room and are covered under a $2 million insurance policy through the Garden Club of New Jersey.

Under questioning by Mayor Knudsen, Ms. Betancourt did not think more than a few members of the public would visit the room at one time.

Noting that many of the members of Women Gardeners of Ridgewood are elderly, Mayor Knudsen questioned their abilities to access the steep staircase. Ms. Betancourt stated that the staircase will not be an issue.

Councilman Sedon felt the resource room was a great idea.

Ms. Mailander stated that a resolution approving this request will be available for a vote at the June 14, 2017 Village Council meeting. After that, once the proper insurance papers are received, the dates the room will be open to the public will be published on the website.

Proposed Stop Signs - Upper Boulevard and Glenwood Road

Ms. Mailander explained that the triangle intersection at the top of the hilly portion of Glenwood Road, where it is bisected by Upper Boulevard, contains existing yield signs. Village Engineer Christopher Rutishauser conducted a field examination of the conditions of this location and found that the sight lines are not optimal with the existing yield signs and that there should be a stop sign. Ms. Mailander noted that this is part of a continuing program in the Village to replace intersections controlled by yield signs with stop signs to eliminate any ambiguity for drivers when they enter the intersection.

There were no questions or comments from the Village Councilmembers. A resolution will be prepared for a vote at the June 14, 2017 Village Council meeting.

Kings Pond Area Cleaning Program - Ridgewood Wildscape Assoc. & Partners

Ms. Mailander explained that the Ridgewood Wildscape Association and its associate partners is offering to clean the Kings Pond Bank area on Sunday, June 11, 2017 between 1:00 p.m. and

3:00 p.m. Ms. Mailander spoke of the Village’s appreciation that, for eleven years, this organization volunteers to cleanup areas located around a Village body of water many times each year.

Ms. Mailander stated that the Village will provide chest waders for the adults that will be in the water; gloves and other personnel protective equipment for handling the anticipated debris collected; rakes and hand tools; and the pickup and disposal of the accumulated debris. This cleanup is in anticipation of the upcoming invasive plant treatment program for the Village that is going to occur later this summer.

Mayor Knudsen noted that members of the Ridgewood Wildscape Association and the Rotary AM Club recently visited the site and started to cleanup. She described the “before and after” as amazing. Mayor Knudsen spoke of her appreciation of all their hard work.

Renew Agreement for Community Development Block Grant Program & Other Grants

Ms. Mailander explained that in order to continue to participate in the Community Development Block Grant Program through Bergen County, the Village’s Intent to Participate must be renewed every three years. Two resolutions must be adopted: one is to continue in the program and the other is to execute the agreement. There is a very short time frame, as the letter was only received late last week, with a deadline of June 12, 2017. A Special Public Meeting will be held on June 7, 2017 to adopt these two resolutions. Community Development Block Grants are used for various projects throughout the Village and the Village benefits by participating in the program.

There were no questions or comments from the Village Councilmembers.

NJDOT Request for Additional Bus Stop - State Highway 17 at Race Track Road

Ms. Mailander explained that NJDOT has recommended an additional bus stop on State Highway 17 Northbound between Race Track Road and Franklin Turnpike, mid-block. An adopted Resolution of Concurrence is required to place this bus stop location in the Bus Stop Inventory Database.

Mr. Rutishauser explained that NJDOT will provide the exact measurements and then the Village will codify this in an ordinance in the Village Code. He stated that the bus shelter will be located right at the pedestrian bridge on the northbound side.

There were no questions or comments from the Village Councilmembers.

MANAGER’S REPORT

Touch-A-Truck - Ms. Mailander thanked Joan Groome, the Chamber of Commerce, Rich from Little Ivy Learning Center, and the Village Staff for their hard work during the recent Touch-A-Truck event.

Graydon Pool - Ms. Mailander called the Village Councilmembers’ attention to the large postcard that was received in yesterday’s mail announcing that “Summer Vacation Begins at Home”, and listed all the programs at Graydon Pool. There are activities for everyone, including swimming and diving instruction, a competitive swim team, standup paddleboard, yoga on the beach, kayaking introduction, movies on the beach, and live monthly concerts. Season membership badges are available for purchase on-line through Community Pass and can be accessed by clicking on the photograph of Graydon Pool on the Village website’s home page. The Graydon Pool Office was open the last two Saturday’s for walk-in badge sales. The total number of badges sold to-date is 991 resident badges and 61 nonresident badges. These numbers are almost double those of last year, which may be due to the “early-bird special” that was offered during the month of April. Ms. Mailander reminded everyone that Graydon Pool’s season begins on Saturday, June 3, 2017 and that Graydon Pool will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on that day.

Teen Leads - Ms. Mailander stated that she, along with Mayor Knudsen, attended the Teen Leads Public Forum on Poverty in Bergen County. Ms. Mailander praised the students from Ridgewood High School who worked on this project, which found a surprising number of families living below the poverty level in Ridgewood. The students will provide Mayor Knudsen with information for those who may need services to post on the Mayor’s Facebook page.

Bergen County Historic Preservation Public Hearings - Ms. Mailander explained that the public hearing for the Zabriskie-Schedler House has been rescheduled for June 22, 2017, and will be held at 1 Bergen County Plaza, Hackensack, New Jersey, in the Freeholders Meeting Room. This presentation will include Ridgewood’s request to restore and stabilize the Zabriskie-Schedler House, Phase I. There will be an opportunity for public comment at this meeting, so residents are encouraged to attend and voice their support.

Ridgewood Guild - Ms. Mailander announced that the Ridgewood Guild will begin their annual “Music in the Night” on Friday, May 26^th, providing various types of music throughout the Central Business District (CBD). The program continues on Fridays through September 1, 2017.

Kasschau Memorial Shell - Ms. Mailander announced that Kasschau Memorial Shell begins their 59^th Season on June 1^st at 8:00 p.m. The first program, as always, is “Tunes in June”, performed by the Ridgewood High School Band. On June 6^th, Sofia Swanson’s Girl Scout Gold Award program entitled, “Ridgewood Artbeat 2017”, will be held, and will feature Ridgewood High School student musicians. These programs will continue on Tuesdays and Thursdays through early August, 2017.

Memorial Day - Ms. Mailander reminded everyone that May 29, 2017 is Memorial Day. Village Hall and Lester Stable will be closed. There will be no sanitation or recycling pickup on that day. The Recycling Center will be open on Saturday, May 27^th from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. There will be a Memorial Day service at Memorial Park at Van Neste Square on Monday, May 29^th at 11:00 a.m.

The 42^nd Fred D’Ella Ridgewood Run - Ms. Mailander noted that the 42^nd Fred D’Ella Ridgewood Run will be held on Monday, May 29^th. This event is organized by the North Jersey Masters and offers races for all ages and abilities.

COUNCIL REPORTS

Financial Advisory Committee (FAC) - Councilman Voigt reported that a review of the fee structure for Village EMS services revealed that there is an opportunity to significantly raise the rates charged to insurers, especially on the private-payer’s side. The current fee is $550 per ride, which could be increased to well over $800 a ride and still be within the rates charged by area municipalities. Also, items such as oxygen could have a fee. These changes would increase the revenue from EMS by tens of thousands of dollars annually.

Councilman Voigt also reported that the Village has a contract with Valley Hospital for their services. This contract must be renewed every year. The rates the Village receives from Valley Hospital are extremely low. The FAC plans to either renegotiate the contract or cancel it at the end of this year.

Councilman Voigt noted that there are also fees from out-of-town residents that have not yet been collected. There are outstanding bills in accounts receivables of approximately $70,000, both from inside and outside of the Village. The FAC proposes to collect this money through the services of a collection agency.

Planning Board - Councilman Voigt reported that the Planning Board met on May 16^th. The Planning Board discussed the KS Broad Street application, with the focus centering on the need for traffic intersection upgrades based on this development, as well as the Enclave development. The addition of these developments has created a need where none had existed before, for upgrading several traffic lights along the Franklin Avenue corridor. The Planning Board members did not feel the Village should be responsible for the cost of these improvement. Councilman Voigt cited Section C of Ordinance 190.55, Off-site Improvements. The developers will be asked to pay for the need they created. The final summation for the KS Broad application is scheduled for a Special Planning Board Meeting on June 26, 2017. The final summation for the Dayton application is scheduled for June 20, 2017. The final summation for the Enclave application is scheduled for July 18, 2017.

Open Space Committee - Councilman Voigt reported that the Open Space Committee finalized the results of the open space survey sent to residents and reported these findings to the Parks and Recreation Department last night. Councilman Voigt thanked Jim Bosta for the work he did on this survey. The next presentation on the findings is scheduled for June 28, 2017. A report will also be generated for the purposes of updating the Master Plan.

Library Board of Trustees - Councilman Voigt stated that the Library Board of Trustees met on May 23^rd. There is an upcoming Ridgewood Library Foundation fundraising event scheduled for October 21, 2017 entitled, “Caddie Stacks”. Councilman Voigt thanked the Friends of the Ridgewood Library, which is headed-up by Paul McCarthy, for the recent Author Luncheon with Jamie Ford. The proceeds netted $32,000 for use by the Library. Councilman Voigt also thanked Library Director Nancy Greene and her staff, as well as Ms. Mailander for their work on improving the parking issue in the Village Hall/Library parking lot.

Councilman Voigt spoke about a meeting he attended, which was held in the Library auditorium, which focused on the impact social media has had on freedom of the press. Discussions included concerns with a lack of investigative reporting and issues with fake news. The event was well-attended and Councilman Voigt thanked Jeanne Johnson for putting the event together.

On a personal note, Councilman Voigt stated that he will put recently obtained OPRA requests on his Facebook page. He felt this documentation represented intimidation and harassment from a group of people against him. Mayor Knudsen called for a point of order, as it is inappropriate for Village Councilmembers to call out members of the public or their communications from the dais. The order of business at this time is Council Liaison Committee reports.

Councilman Sedon stated that he did not have any Committee reports this evening. However, he would be happy to make public all the documents that he has obtained through his OPRA requests, if anyone is interested.

Bergen County League of Municipalities - Councilwoman Walsh stated that Assemblywoman Holly Schepisi has received permission to have a Town Hall Meeting at Bergen Community College on June 15, 2017 at 5:30 p.m. This will be a general meeting on affordable housing throughout the State. Everyone is invited. Please contact Assemblywoman Schepisi for more information.

Citizens Safety Advisory Committee (CSAC) - Councilwoman Walsh stated that at the last CSAC meeting there was a general discussion as to what the County plans to do with Franklin Avenue, i.e., paving, lights and safety. The parking map of the Ridge School area is complete. A suggestion was made for the Ridgewood Police to remind individuals pushing strollers to walk on the sides of the street, as opposed to the center of the street, in areas where there are no sidewalks. The Van Emburgh Avenue/Hampshire Road crosswalk is before the County. Once approval is received, the crosswalk will be created on the east side of Route 17. The Safe Route to School Grant of $400,000 continues to be reviewed by the Engineering Department. The liaison for CBDAC informed the CSAC that another bid request is going out for the Central Business District valet. The CSAC continues to review their guidelines. There was a discussion on the tracking form suggested by Mayor Knudsen, including concerns that the form was burdensome and that it would discourage residents from coming to CSAC meetings. Parking at the Train Station was also discussed and a point was made that there will still be a walkway. The CSAC has asked the Village Engineer to look at the striping, that was completed by the County on the shoulder of West Glen Avenue, to determine if it is as close to the curb as possible.

Fields Committee - Councilman Hache reported that a meeting was held between the Village Manager, representatives from the Ridgewood Board of Education, Ridgewood Baseball, PRC, Village Parks and Recreation, and Village Engineering Department to discuss the needs and the best uses of the existing fields to determine if there is a need for an additional baseball field. Tomorrow, there will be a meeting regarding the Estate Card with representatives from the Chamber of Commerce and the Ridgewood Guild. Ralph Black will discuss the best ways to market and implement this program.

Central Business District Advisory Committee (CBDAC) - Councilman Hache stated that the CBDAC is currently scheduled to meet on Thursday, June 1^st at 7:30 p.m. The time may need to be changed to Thursday morning because of scheduling conflicts among some members. Discussions will include revising the Central Valet RFP to reflect constraints from the valet operators and to allow access to existing parking facilities during peak evening hours.

Planning Board - Mayor Knudsen stated that during the KS Broad site plan application discussion, there appeared to be some discrepancies on the traffic reports from the Village’s Traffic Consultant, David Shropshire, based on his own observations when compared to the actual traffic study that he used, which was the study that the previous Village Council commissioned in advance of the ordinances that were passed. The traffic consultant was asked to confirm the information that was reported in the 2016 study that was commissioned by the current Village Council.

Access Ridgewood - Mayor Knudsen reported that Access Ridgewood met on Thursday, May 18^th. Chairwoman Ines Bunza went through the concerns of Village residents regarding affordable, special needs housing. The discussion focused on the way the ordinances were written and how to implement special needs housing in Ridgewood. When the ordinances were passed last spring, language could have included special needs housing, but it did not. Currently, there are no requirements for any developer to include special needs housing in their projects. Access Ridgewood will continue to work to facilitate special needs housing and they are committed to do as much as humanly possible with scarce resources.

Camp Acorn - Mayor Knudsen stated that she joined Ridgewood residents at the Camp Acorn Tricky Tray Fundraiser on May 17^th. Camp Acorn was founded in 2001 and serves the special needs population of Northern New Jersey, with year-round enrichment programs for children and adults with a variety of disabilities. It was a fabulous fund raiser with over 800 attendees and many prizes. Mayor Knudsen won a television.

Memorial Day - Mayor Knudsen stated that she and Councilwoman Walsh, with the assistance of American Legion Post 53 and the Boy and Girl Scouts, placed American Flags at the graves of military personnel at Valleau Cemetery.

Teen Leads - Mayor Knudsen stated that she was very proud of Debbie Emery and the students of Ridgewood High School for all their hard work on the Teen Leads Public Forum on Poverty in Bergen County. Teen Leads will be invited to a June, 2017 Village Council meeting to make their presentation to the public.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Bill McCandless, 71 Ridge Road, encouraged the Village Council and the Village of Ridgewood to embrace Assemblywoman Schepisi’s call to action over court mandated over-development. Assemblywoman Schepisi will be holding an open meeting at Bergen Community College on June 15, 2017.

Mr. McCandless expressed disappointment with the FAC’s recommendation for higher fees on residents. He felt that fees were quite high already and that more were not needed. He felt that more fees would lead to the need for additional staffing. Mr. McCandless felt that Ridgewood’s taxes, which he described as “out of control”, should be more of a priority than competition with other municipalities. As the Village Council moves ahead on plans and priorities, working toward a more accountable Village Government should remain a primary goal. To ensure that taxpayers are served best, only elected officials and paid Village Hall employees, should be setting the Village’s fiscal direction. To this end, there is a CFO and Village Manager, who are leaders with goals and who are held accountable by the Village Council. The Village staff should be strong and prepared for the dynamic and uncontrollable forces of State law and economics that act on us all. While the idea of the Village Council having assistance on financial matters is right, those roles should be filled within Village Hall, with accountability to taxpayers. Devising the fiscal path of the Village is core to the Village Council’s mission and central for the reason the Village Hall exists. The Ridgewood tax burden is growing every year. School budgets are up over 25% in 10 years. Parking fees are rising.

Mr. McCandless described Garber Square as broken. He expressed disappointment that the Village Councilmembers did not question adding more cars to Garber Square. Garber Square has a single exit that is broken during peak traffic periods, experiencing a maximum flow in and out. Now there will be more traffic with no improvements proposed for the intersection. Additional traffic will also be created by the residential developments proposed to be located 100’ away from Garber Square. He felt the improvement of traffic in the Garber Square area was more important than the Franklin Avenue corridor.

Councilman Voigt noted that the EMS fees will not cost Village residents any money. The fees are billed to the insurance companies. Mr. McCandless noted that he objected to the trend of raising fees and he wanted it to stay under the control of the Village’s CFO.

Fran Loshin Turso, 354 McKinley Place, stated that she was in favor of the additional commuter parking spots at the Train Station; however, she asked to see a plan for how the Village will deal with the disruptions for commuters, including a construction time table and where commuters will park during construction.

Ms. Turso asked the Village Councilmembers to keep in-fighting to a minimum, as she did not feel it serves the public.

Saurabh Dani, 390 Bedford Road, felt the FAC did a great job on their presentation regarding fees and that some of the points raised were good ones. However, he felt that Ridgewood should be compared to more efficient municipalities and that each line item should be considered on how it could be made more efficient, since this is not a free market and the Village is not a profit-making organization.

Mr. Dani started to read from an e-mail written by Councilman Voigt and obtained through OPRA. Councilwoman Walsh called a point of order because comments cannot be directed to a specific Councilmember from the podium.

Boyd Loving, 342 South Irving Street, noted that people do not move to Ridgewood solely for the good schools. People move to and remain in Ridgewood for the services that are offered. He felt that there will be a tremendous backlash if the Village starts to charge for every single service offered. Mr. Loving referred to a recommendation by the FAC to increase the parking permit fee to $1,000 and the backlash that followed. Mr. Loving strongly objected to increasing fees.

Mr. Loving expressed a concern with the suggested design change to the Hudson Street Parking Garage, increasing its cost by $900,000, with more changes possible. He questioned the feedback the Village Councilmembers received that suggested a design change. Mr. Loving felt that the Village will not be able to pay for this parking garage without it seriously effecting businesses and taxpayers and he asked for the original design to be reconsidered.

Melanie McWilliams, 431 Bogert Avenue, stated her embarrassment with the fighting between Village Councilmembers and the calling out of residents from the dais.

Anne Loving, 342 South Irving Street, suggested that when presentations are being put up on a screen, that the font is made large enough so it can be clearly viewed from all parts of the room.

Ms. Loving noted that when a point of order is called, it should be immediately respected so that the point of order can be explained. A point of order this evening was respected by a resident, but not by a Village Councilmember.

Mayor Knudsen spoke about OPRA requests. Mayor Knudsen stated that Mr. Albert Doblin, Editorial Page Editor of “The Record”, wrote an op-ed piece about a Pride Flag, which was sent to her by a resident. When she read this, she was dismayed. Mayor Knudsen did not feel that Mr. Doblin was fair to the Village Council. The only person quoted in the article was a former mayor. Mr. Doblin never called or e-mailed to question any member of the Village Council on their position on the Pride Flag or where the Village Council would go after the question of the front of Village Hall was raised, discussed and decided upon. Mayor Knudsen e-mailed Mr. Doblin and Mr. Rick Green separately and simply wrote, “an opportunity for a conversation and dialogue; please call me”. Mr. Doblin did call Mayor Knudsen on the afternoon of Wednesday, May 10^th. When Mayor Knudsen spoke to Mr. Doblin, she told him that she didn’t understand how he could call Village Councilmembers cowards and bigots. Village Councilmembers are not cowards or bigots; they must make decisions that people may or may not like. Mayor Knudsen asked Mr. Doblin why he didn’t ask for input from any member of the Village Council, and she told him that she did not feel it was appropriate for him to take the Deputy Mayor’s words out of context. Mr. Doblin responded that the only time the Mayor suggested the option of flying the Gay Pride Flag in Van Neste Square was on the afternoon of the Monday after his op-ed piece ran. Mayor Knudsen responded that this was not true, as she e-mailed this information on Thursday morning, May 4, 2017. Mr. Doblin stated that Councilman Voigt had forwarded Mayor Knudsen’s e-mails to him and that the only e-mails were from Monday afternoon. Mayor Knudsen questioned this as she was genuinely concerned that Mr. Doblin was confused about the date and time of Mayor Knudsen’s e-mail to a resident. In order to verify and confirm the information that Mr. Doblin had was accurate, Mayor Knudsen filed an OPRA request. The issue at hand was gaining steam because some people on Facebook started to post misinformation and were supporting Mr. Doblin’s op-ed piece by posting it and receiving 189 comments. It was important to at least make sure there was some accuracy in the information Mr. Doblin had. Mayor Knudsen forwarded Mr. Doblin her May 4^th e-mail that showed that there was a discussion about Van Neste Square. This e-mail was written before Mr. Doblin wrote his op-ed piece and before a Village Councilmember ever wrote a Letter to the Editor. As a matter of fact, it was a discussion that the Village Attorney, Mayor Knudsen, and the Village Manager had long before. Van Neste is the only place that is in any Minutes of any Community Relations Advisory Board (CRAB) meeting from August to February, and it is a discussion specifically that the Mayor had with the CRAB Chairperson. Because there was an issue with the accuracy of the date and time of Mayor Knudsen’s e-mail and because it was a contentious and serious issue that upset people on both sides, she opened the e-mails just to confirm the date. She did not do this to hurt anyone or to pick on anyone. Mayor Knudsen said that she was shocked by what was written about her by a Village Council colleague in those e-mails, describing the contents as hurtful, painful to read, unwarranted, baseless and not nice, and containing a gratuitous swipe to her family. Mayor Knudsen credited Mr. Doblin’s for his acknowledgement that there was an error in communication. Mayor Knudsen noted that she did not distribute copies of those e-mails to anyone. Mayor Knudsen reiterated that the reason she made the OPRA request was because there was a discrepancy in the date and time of her e-mail and she needed to identify the e-mails that were forward to Mr. Doblin.

Councilman Voigt stated that he didn’t disparage Mayor Knudsen at all and that a lot of the information in the e-mails was quite revealing. He encouraged everyone to read these e-mails to understand how Mayor Knudsen operates. Mayor Knudsen responded that this was just somebody’s opinion.

Councilwoman Walsh wanted to make sure that residents know they are encouraged to send e-mails to the Village Council; however, residents must be aware that most e-mails sent through the public server can be obtained by any one through an OPRA request.

RESOLUTION TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION

Deputy Village Clerk Donna Jackson read Resolution #17-143 to go into Closed Session as follows:

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business to come before the Village Council, on a motion by Councilman Sedon, seconded by Councilwoman Walsh, and carried unanimously by voice vote, the Village Council’s Work Session was adjourned at 9:39 p.m.

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Susan Knudsen

Mayor

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Donna M. Jackson

Deputy Village Clerk

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20170524 Village Council Work Session Minutes

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