20170628 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 JUNE 28, 2017 AT 7:30 P.M.

 

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

Mayor Knudsen called the meeting to order at 7:35 P.M. and read the Statement of Compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act. At roll call, the following were present: Councilmembers Hache, Voigt, Walsh, and Mayor Knudsen. Councilman Sedon was absent. 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.

2. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC

Mayor Knudsen asked if there were any comments or questions from the public.

Cynthia Halaby, 374 Evergreen Place, spoke about the train station parking that was removed from tonight’s agenda. Mrs. Halaby recalled that at a prior Village Council meeting, it was stated that only the Ridgewood Railroad Station building, and not the green oval in front of it known as the Train Station Plaza, was listed on the NJ Register of Historic Places. Ms. Halaby stated that she telephoned Andrea Tingey, Principal Historic Preservation Specialist at the New Jersey Historic Preservation Office, who told her that the Ridgewood Village Center Railroad Station Historic District includes the train station building and the entire area of Garber Square and Wilsey Square. The whole area is listed in the NJ Register of Historic Places. If the area is converted to parking, and is within the limits of the NJ Registered Listed Historic District, prior authorization must be received from the Commission of the Department of Environmental Protection. Ms. Tingey stated that an application prepared by Village Engineer Christopher Rutishauser was received on June 20, 2017. Ms. Halaby stated that she received a copy of this application, this evening. Ms. Halaby felt the application was erroneous in many counts. As an example, she noted that the application states that there will be “minimal decrease in the greenspace”, when, in fact, it will be reduced by 80%. As another example, Ms. Halaby noted a reference to the parking deck having been proposed and turned down numerous time, when, in fact, the parking deck is on tonight’s agenda for discussion. Ms. Halaby stated that she would like to continue to discuss the inconsistencies of this application with the Village Council members at a later time.

Hans Lehman, 234 Union Street, referred to a discussion held at the June 14, 2017 Village Council meeting which addressed the Zabriskie/Schedler Committee out of Parks and Recreation; the Community Relations Advisory Board (CRAB); and the Financial Advisory Board (FAC). Mr. Lehman felt that the suggested reorganization of these committees to an ad hoc system was an attempt to remove certain volunteers, as political payback and as a form of intimidation. Mr. Lehman noted that CRAB, of which his wife is Chairperson, has been in existence now for nearly 30 years. Hundreds of volunteers have served on CRAB, and the concerns of hundreds of victims, effected by violence, hatred and racism, have been heard by CRAB. Mr. Lehman stated that volunteers are an integral part of the operation of a municipality, and volunteerism should be encouraged. He did not feel an ad hoc system would work for CRAB. CRAB is a standing body that, over decades, has developed a referral system for those residents who have been victimized. He urged the Village Councilmembers to consider the volunteers and victims when considering this issue.

Siobhan Winograd, 274 Ivy Place, described CRAB as a group of well-meaning, wonderful people who have a lot of different viewpoints. Hate, bias and intimidation are complex structures that have seized society for a long time, and require diversity to deal with them effectively. Ms. Winograd spoke of her pride in how the residents and merchants of Ridgewood embraced diversity by flying the Gay Pride Flag at their homes and businesses on June 1^st.

Ann Marie Agnello, 31 Clinton Avenue, urged the Village Councilmembers to consider the safety implications of amending the Clinton Avenue parking ordinance. She expressed concerns with children and turning vehicles; the movement of parked vehicles during restricted times; and the impact of traffic flow on West Ridgewood Avenue and Godwin Avenue. Mayor Knudsen pointed out that a discussion on the amended ordinance will be held this evening, and a public hearing on the amended ordinance is scheduled for July 12, 2017. Mayor Knudsen will e-mail documents associated with this issue to Ms. Agnello.

Gregory Brown, 444 Linwood Avenue, thanked the Village Councilmembers for their service to the Village. Mr. Brown asked for a status update regard the water conservation methods being implemented by the other municipalities that are serviced by Ridgewood Water.

Mr. Brown expressed safety concerns with debris from the Fourth of July Celebration and children attending day camp. He noted that it took well over a week to clean-up after the Fourth of July Celebration last year.

Bill McCandless, 71 Ridge Road, described the Ridgecrest entrance to the train station as a disaster; full of weeds and overgrown. He urged the Village Council to bring this to the attention of New Jersey Transit.

Mr. McCandless spoke about the importance of establishing a reasonable speed limit on Village roads, as well as adding an increased level of enforcement, particularly with the traffic increase anticipated as a result of the new, multi-unit residential developments.  

Sean McCooe, 66 Walthery Avenue, urged the Village Council not to change the dual access of the street going down to Ho-Ho-Kus over the train tracks (Glenwood Road).

Mr. McCooe also asked the Village Council to look into removing the bamboo and overgrown vegetation on Crest Road, that impedes a clear view of fireworks.

Wayne Angelbeck, 630 Morningside Road, asked if traffic studies were conducted before a decision was made to change the traffic pattern of Glenwood Road to one-way going eastbound. He felt that more time and public input should be required before any decision is made on the Glenwood Road Crossing.

There being no further public comment, Mayor Knudsen closed the meeting to the public.

Mayor Knudsen stated that the Village Council will follow-up on the status of the water conservation ordinances with the other municipalities serviced by Ridgewood Water.

In reference to changing the Glenwood Avenue Crossing, Mayor Knudsen stated that this issue has been under discussion since the fall of 2016. Village Manager, Heather Mailander, urged everyone wishing to comment on this issue to visit the Village website to view the NJ DOT memorandum of record and contact information before the July 7, 2017 deadline. Ms. Mailander noted that NJ DOT owns Glenwood Avenue, so the decision to change the traffic pattern of Glenwood Avenue is made by NJ DOT, not the Village Council. Mayor Knudsen stated that she will e-mail related documents from the NJDOT to Mr. Angelbeck, and she requested that he forward it to any other interested person.

Ms. Mailander stated that the Village will look into the overgrowth at the north end of the train platform.

Mayor Knudsen re-opened the public comment portion of the meeting.

Joseph Ferrante, 610 Hillcrest Road, pointed out that even though the decision to change the traffic pattern of Glenwood Avenue is made by NJ DOT, not the Village Council, NJDOT is looking for substantive input from the Village Council. The Village should not be passive. Although this is a state decision, local government carries a great deal of weight. Mayor Knudsen assured everyone that the Village Council will discuss this issue and take a very strong position on it.

There being no further comments from the public, Mayor Knudsen closed the public portion of the meeting.

 

3. PRESENTATION

1. Open Space Survey Findings

Ralph Currey, Chairperson of the Open Space Committee, introduced Jim Bostler, a member of the Open Space Committee and the driving force behind the Open Space Survey. Mr. Currey explained that the Open Space Survey was conducted in response to a requirement of the Green Acres Planning and Senate Program for the Village to have an updated Open Space and Recreation Plan. The Open Space and Recreation Plan is part of the Master Plan. The NJ Green Acres Program specifies the elements that are required to be set forth in the Open Space and Recreation Plan. One of the requirements is a “needs analysis”. Taking the industry numerical standard, used by organizations such as the National Recreation and Parks Association, of 10 acres of open space per 1,000 residents, a needs analysis conducted in 2010 used a population of 25,000 to determine the need for 250 acres of open space. Since that time, the standards have changed, as it was determined that this method was more of a “one-size-fits all” approach, and may result in unrealistic numbers. Mr. Currey explained that the revised Open Space Recreation Plan will use both a numerical standard, as well as a community-based needs assessment.

                       

Mr. Bostler explained that the Open Space Survey was written by members of the Open Space Committee, as well as outside experts in market research. The Open Space Committee took the Voters Registration List and created a random sample of Ridgewood households. Duplications were eliminated. In April, surveys were sent to the first 2,100 households that came out of the random sample. (Mr. Bostler noted that there are approximately 8,500 households in Ridgewood, so 2,100 households represented a 25% sampling.) The goal was to receive at least 360 responses, and 413 responses were received. The survey had a 95% confidence level.

Under questioning by Mayor Knudsen, Mr. Bostler explained that to combat fraud, access to the on-line survey response form was restricted to one-time only and from only one computer IP address. Mr. Currey added that the survey was only open for two weeks. Mayor Knudsen noted that she observed information in the lobby of Village Hall that identified the link to this survey. Mr. Bostler and Mr. Currey suggested that other groups may have provided this information. Mr. Bostler also noted that the survey permitted respondents without computers to bring the paper survey to Village Hall, where Mr. Bostler would enter the information into the computer for them. Mr. Bostler assured the Mayor that he was confident with the accuracy of the numbers.

Mr. Bostler listed the recommendations of the Open Space Committee, broken down into the categories of needs, balance, awareness, and use of website, as follows:

Needs

• Over 60% of the respondents would support the acquisition of more open space.
• People were generally satisfied with the conditions of the parks; but they often noted that some improvement is needed
• There was no consensus as to the funding of the acquisitions or improvements, although there is a willingness to invest

Balance (passive versus active open space)

• Over half of the respondents wanted a combination of passive and active open space
• Active-only or passive-only acquisitions should be carefully considered based upon specific interests

Awareness

• There must be better communication on the location and accessibility of all parks, including possible tie-ins with Ridgewood Wildscape, Ridgewood Shade Tree or links on the Village website. Access may also be an issue as to parking, mobility, and user-friendly access for seniors and other groups

Use of Website

• Over 90% of the respondents indicated that they were aware of the Village website, but only a little over half of the respondents used it. More attention is required such as, the ease of use, making sure information is current, providing shortcuts for special needs, and providing more tie-ins to local groups.

Mr. Bostler listed some of the results of the survey, as follows:

• Over 60% of the respondents would support the acquisition of more open space.
• Approximately 39% felt that passive-only open space should be added in the future
• Approximately 9% wanted dedicated, active-only open space
• Over 50% wanted a combination of active and passive open space to be added
• Approximately 44% wanted available funding to go toward land acquisition
• Approximately 56% wanted available funding to go toward existing open space

Under questioning by Mayor Knudsen, Mr. Bostler explained that active open space is defined by activities that are scheduled in a more formalized basis. Passive open space is more informal and individualistic. Mr. Currey added that an active open space is more like a specifically constructed playing field. Mayor Knudsen noted that these definitions were not clearly stated in the survey. Mr. Currey agreed that the answers will need to be interpreted to a certain degree for this reason, as well as the fact that many people are also unaware of the presence of existing open space within the Village.  

Mr. Bostler continued with the survey findings, as follows:

Choices were presented on how to support funding of the acquisition of additional open space.

• The questioned was answered by 293 of the 413 respondents, suggesting that 29% of the respondents were against any additional funding
• 35% chose an increase property tax surcharge earmarked for open space
• 21% chose a Seller/Buyer Transfer Fee attached to future home sales
• Very little support for a one-time assessment of current properties
• 31% chose a one-time assessment for new construction
• Half of the respondents would support an increase in Ridgewood’s Open Space Tax being put onto the election ballot as a public question; half of the respondents would not support this.
• Almost 90% indicated that they have used open space, especially Van Neste Square and Veterans Park
• Almost 98% were familiar with Graydon Pool; with 55% indicating that they don’t use it and only 3% indicating that they were unaware of Graydon Pool
• Over 50% were aware of the Village Tennis Courts, but did not use them
• 62% were unaware of Gypsy Pond
• 64% were unaware of North (inaudible) Park and Pleasant Park (Mr. Bostler noted that this figure may have been reduced if Pleasant Park was identified as Hawes Field)
• There was a great deal of satisfaction with the hiking and exercise trails
• There was a lesser degree of satisfaction with the 60-foot and 90-foot baseball fields and the softball fields (Mr. Bostler pointed out that there was a low response rate in this area considering that not all respondents were associated with sports. He suggested conducting additional surveys with people involved in sports to get a more accurate result.)
• Overall, 85% of the respondents were very happy with the Ridgewood parks and outdoor recreation facilities, with only 15% expressing disappointment.
• Two-thirds of the respondents were satisfied or very satisfied with the way the parks and outdoor recreation facilities were maintained.
• 94% of the respondents were familiar with Ridgewood’s website; however, over half do not use it on a regular basis.

Mr. Bostler thanked the Village Council for giving the Open Space Committee the $1,200 funding to conduct this survey, and the opportunity to present the information this evening.

Under questioning by Mayor Knudsen, Mr. Bostler explained that the Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) recommends that a minimum of 3% of the land area be set aside for recreational purposes. However, this 3% figure is ambiguous, as it is unclear on how the land area would be calculated. The National Recreation and Parks Association suggests setting aside 10 acres per 1,000 population for recreational purposes. Mr. Bostler recalled that, a few years ago, the Village engaged a consulting firm to prepare a recreation plan, which used the standard of 10.5 acres per 1,000 population.

Under questioning by Councilman Voigt, Mr. Bostler stated that he received positive feedback when presenting this survey to the Parks and Recreation Department.

Mayor Knudsen thanked Mr. Currey, Mr. Bostler, and the Open Space Committee for their time, effort and service to the community.

4. DISCUSSION
5. Ridgewood Water
6. Award of Contract - Infrared Asphalt Restoration

Ms. Mailander explained that this contract is for infrared asphalt surface repair, asphalt trench patching, and miscellaneous curb and sidewalk repair at various locations. There were 11 registered plan holders and 3 bid packages were received. J. Fletcher Creamer Construction was the apparent low bidder at $1,267 for the aggregate amount of all the unit items. Their bid package was complete. The bid will be shared by the Village with Ridgewood Water Company, as well the possibility of other communities who have expressed an interest in using this low bidder for their pavement/concrete restoration work in the past. The total amount will not exceed $80,000.

1. Budget
2. Bergen County Open Space Trust Fund Grant Application

Timothy Cronin, Director, Parks and Recreation, was present.

Ms. Mailander explained that, annually, the Parks and Recreation Department applies for a grant through the Bergen County Open Space Trust Fund Municipal Program Park Improvement. This is a matching fund grant. It was determined that replacing the 12-year-old synthetic turf at Maple Park East was a priority; a use acceptable under the grant guidelines. The replacement will provide a safe, durable surface to exist in multi-purpose fields, which encompasses playing soccer, little league baseball, girls softball, lacrosse, football and additional active and passive recreational play purposes. The application grant process requires a public hearing, which is scheduled for August 2, 2017.

Under questioning by Councilwoman Walsh, Mr. Cronin explained that the proposal is to replace the turf only. There will be some minor regrading of the sublayer. The work will comply with all regulations regarding concussion prevention.

Mayor Knudsen pointed out that page 3 of the application, under Historic Preservation Assessment, should state that there are historic sites that are contiguous with this property (Graydon Pool and Lester Stable). Village Attorney Matthew Rogers agreed with Mayor Knudsen. Mr. Cronin stated that he will contact the County to clarify this information.

1. Policy
2. Ordinance to Amend Chapter 260 - Trees and Shrubs

Ms. Mailander explained that, do to the fact that there was an attachment to the original ordinance which was adopted in June, which was not published nor was the Village Council aware of, the process is starting over with the ordinance being reintroduced with a different ordinance number and the scheduling of a public hearing on July 12, 2017.  

1. Parking
2. Rebid Central Valet Services

Ms. Mailander explained that there were 4 plan holders eligible to bid. The Village received one bid from LAZ Parking of New York City, with a quote of $1,323, for a 26-week total of $103,194. After further review of the bid received, it is recommended that the bid be rejected and the referenced work be rebid with reduced hours of service. Originally, the valet services were proposed for Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights; now the proposal is for Friday and Saturday nights only.

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

Roll Call Vote

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

NAYS:            None

ABSENT:       Councilman Sedon

ABSTAIN:     None

5. SPECIAL PUBLIC MEETING - SEE SEPARATE MINUTES

Councilwoman Walsh moved to adjourn the Special Public Meeting and reconvene the Work session. Councilman Hache seconded the motion.

Roll Call Vote

AYES:                        Councilmembers Hache, Voigt, Walsh and Mayor Knudsen

NAYS:            None

ABSENT:       Councilman Sedon

ABSTAIN:     None

6. DISCUSSION (CONTINUED)
7. Ridgewood Water
8. Lease of Property for Co-Location of Wireless Telecommunications Antennas - Glen Avenue Tank Location

Ms. Mailander explained that Ridgewood Water accepted bids for the above reference location. The project involves the lease of tank and ground space for the installation of new communication and related equipment on Ridgewood Water’s Glen Avenue Water Tank located in Midland Park, NJ. Three bid specifications were requested and received. The bid documents were reviewed and it is recommended that the bid be awarded to the highest bidder, Scientel Solutions, out of Lombard, Illinois. The award is contingent upon negotiating a final lease.

2. Award Contract - Polyphosphate Pumps for Corrosion Control

Ms. Mailander explained that in accordance with the USEPA Sanitary Survey, Federal and State lead and copper rules, and subsequent Administrative Order and NJDEP Corrosion Control Directive, Ridgewood Water must provide disinfection and corrosion control, respectively, to prevent bacteria, viruses, lead, and copper from leaching into the water supply. In order to accomplish this, sodium hypochlorite and ortho polyphosphate is fed into the system. In order to achieve the required level of treatment, chemical and polyphosphate pumps are utilized, as manufactured by Prominent and available only through Dave Heiner Associates in Parsippany, New Jersey. It is recommended that the contract be awarded to Dave Heiner Associates in the amount of $127,000. Funding for this purchase is contained in the Water Utility Capital Budget.

1. Parking
2. Update on Parking Garage

Robert Rooney, C.F.O. and Parking Utility Director, was present.

Ms. Mailander explained the following options to consider for the parking garage on Hudson Street:

• Sell the Hudson Street Parking Lot, as it has been determined that there is no longer a need for that parking lot for public use. Bids could be requested for the sale of the property. The sale would be open to anyone, and the Village cannot restrict what can be built on that lot.
• Lease the Hudson Street Parking Lot, and request that a parking garage be built on this lot under Village specifications. Under State Statute, leasing arrangements cannot be made for profit and fees.
• Award a contract for a design and project manager. Once the design is complete, the bid process for construction would begin. Bids must comply with all aspects of the State Purchasing Law.
• Declare Hudson Street as a redevelopment property. This would involve hearings at both the Village Council level and the Planning Board level. Once accomplished, there are no restrictions as to how the developer is selected or how the design and construction process is handled.

The Village Councilmembers discussed these options. Councilwoman Walsh felt the most feasible option was to own the property and build upon it. Councilman Voigt agreed.

Under questioning by Councilman Voigt, Mr. Rooney stated that the third option, to award a contract for a design and project manager, was the most viable from a financial standpoint.

Mayor Knudsen also agree that the third option, awarding a contract for a design and project manager, was the best. However, she felt that the fourth option, declaring Hudson Street as a redevelopment property, should be kept as an alternative option. She expressed a concern that the fourth option would be a long process, but she noted that there is the benefit of there being no restrictions.

Under questioning by Mayor Knudsen, Mr. Rooney stated that he is recommending another Walker Study.

Councilwoman Walsh spoke of the importance of including the intensity of traffic, anticipated from the Dayton and KS Broad multi-family developments, in the Walker Study. Mr. Rooney explained that Village professionals will meet with the consultants and go through all the changes that have occurred since the last study was completed. This information will be incorporated into their projections.

Under questioning by Mayor Knudsen, Mr. Rooney explained that, previously, once the garage design was known, a traffic study took place based upon the garage design. Mr. Rooney felt that the traffic study could be done simultaneously with the bid process, and the Village can either ask the successful bidder to include that in their process, or it can be done separately, but at the same time.  

Councilwoman Walsh spoke of the importance of defining the uses of the parking garage, so that it does not get filled-up by Central Business District (CBD) resident parking. Mr. Rooney recalled that the previous Walker Study contained a draft report of how the garage should be used. This report included where people should park and the percentages of parking for commuters, shoppers/diners, etc. This report could be updated with current information.

It was the consensus of the Village Council to choose option three, the awarding of a contract for a design and project manager. The Walker Study will be discussed at the July 12, 2017 Village Council meeting. Since the Village Council has already appointed a traffic consultant, he will be asked to conduct a review before the Walker Study is revisited.

Councilman Hache asked how the parking uses were allocated by use in the original Walker Report. Mr. Rooney stated that he did not know this information offhand; however, he stated that he will forward copies of the original Walker Report to all the Councilmembers.

Councilman Hache spoke of the importance of prohibiting overnight parking.

Under questioning by Councilman Voigt, Mr. Rooney explained that the Parking Utility will support the garage. An analysis will be conducted to determine parking rates.

2. Clinton Avenue Parking - Safety Concerns

Councilwoman Walsh explained that the Citizens Safety Advisory Committee had the following questions regarding the hours that Clinton Avenue is proposed to be closed:

• During the designated restricted access hours, will anyone other than residents be able to access Clinton Avenue?
• If someone parked on Clinton Avenue during the day and needed to leave during the hours Clinton Avenue is closed, how would this be regulated?

Councilman Voigt felt that since there are no sidewalks on Clinton Avenue, the ordinance should not be amended.

Mayor Knudsen suggested prohibiting parking beginning one half hour before and one half hour after the road closure times. This will ensure that there is no traffic on the street when school children are present. A discussion followed, and it was decided to use Councilwoman Walsh’s suggestion to allow parking from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. only, with appropriate signage.

Councilwoman Walsh suggested allowing parking on only one side of the street. A discussion followed, including input from Ridgewood Police Sergeant John Chuck, and it was decided that parking will be allowed only on the east side of Clinton Avenue.

This amended ordinance will be introduced at the July 12, 2017 Village Council meeting.

1. Budget
2. Declare Fire Department Equipment Surplus

Ms. Mailander explained that two pieces of property can be declared surplus. One is a 1999 GMC Yukon SUV, that has multiple mechanical problems and is no longer used to respond to emergencies. The other is firefighting hose, which is 20 years or older and is damaged, so it is not suitable for firefighting.

2. Award Contract Under State Contract - Tires

Ms. Mailander explained that there is a need to purchase tires through the State of New Jersey Cooperative Purchasing Program, for a cost not to exceed $55,000. Since the purchase exceeds the statutory limit of $40,000 under the State’s Cooperative Purchasing Program, it must be authorized by Village Council resolution. The vendor is Kirk’s Tire and Auto, located in Bergenfield, NJ.

3. Award Contract Under State Contract - Police Handguns, Holsters,                                          and Magazine Pouches

Ms. Mailander explained that this resolution will authorize the purchase of new, Glock 9mm handguns for the Police Department, as well as holsters, magazine pouches, and associated ammunition. The handgun contract is proposed to be awarded to the lowest bidder, Witmer Public Safety Group. The holsters and magazine pouches will be purchased from Atlantic Tactical under State Contract. The ammunition will be purchased from Eagle Point, also under State Contract.

4. Award Contract Under State Contract - Two Police Patrol SUVs

Ms. Mailander explained that this resolution will authorize the purchase of two, Chevy Tahoe Police Pursuit Vehicles, and associated emergency equipment. The purchase will be made out of 2017 Capital, and will not exceed $132,000 in total.        These vehicles will be assigned to patrol, and will replace two, 2012 Chevy Tahoe’s, which are in good working order, but are at the end of the life cycle of a police car. One vehicle will be given to the Office of Emergency Management and the other vehicle will be given to the Building Department. Some of the equipment in these cars, including camera systems, radios, and radar systems, will be reused in the new vehicles. The new vehicles will be purchased through State Contract. The radar systems will be purchased through a sole source provider, and the striping will be purchased through a local vendor.

5.          Award Contract Under State Contract - Lifts and Support Stands -                                         Fleet Services

Ms. Mailander explained that this resolution will authorize the acquisition of lifts and support stands for the Central Garage. The purchase will be made under State Contract, with a total expenditure of $83,397. The State Contract Vendor is Hoffman Services, located in Newark, NJ.

Under questioning by Mayor Knudsen, Richard Calbi, Director of Operations, explained that this purchase will replace some antiquated equipment and add some additional equipment. The lifts will be portable.

6. Award Contract Under National Joint Powers Alliance - Front End                                         Loaders with Snowplows

Ms. Mailander explained that this resolution will authorize the purchase of two, front end loaders, with snow plows and attachments, at a cost not to exceed $467,582. The vendor is Groff Tractor, located in Totowa, NJ.

7. Award Contract Under National Joint Powers Alliance - Two                                                    Sanitation Trucks with Snowplows

Ms. Mailander pointed out that none of the current sanitation trucks have snowplows, so this will be a new practice. The resolution will authorize the purchase of two chassis and cabs; two rear load packers; and two plows, at a cost not to exceed $428,604.16, from three different vendors.

Under questioning by Mayor Knudsen, Mr. Calbi explained that the cost to operate a garbage truck as a snowplow is the same as operating other snowplows. The new trucks will be more versatile and will be used primarily on straight, level roadways (main thoroughfares).

Under questioning by Councilman Hache, Mr. Calbi explained that a plow cannot be added to existing trucks, as these trucks are not made for that type of equipment. He pointed out that the new trucks will have bases that are the same as the trucks used by the Streets Division, so this will make maintenance universal throughout the Recycling Division, the Sanitation Division, and the Streets Division, as well as increasing snow plowing capabilities.

1. Policy
2. Options for Glenwood Road Railroad Crossing

Police Sergeant John Chuck and Village Engineer Christopher Rutishauser were present.

Ms. Mailander stated that, even though the decision to change the traffic pattern of Glenwood Avenue is made by NJ DOT, not the Village Council, NJDOT is looking for input from the Village Council.

Mr. Rutishauser referred to a memorandum he wrote, dated June 23, 2017, detailing a discussion he had with a representative of NJDOT. The representative explained that one of the issues that would be reviewed, when considering rescinding their plans for Glenwood Road, would be if the road were reconfigured to have a better flow of movement and traffic. Currently, some of the problems involve westbound traffic getting stuck on the tracks when larger vehicles have difficulty navigating the s -shaped turn.

Mr. Rutishauser reviewed the following potential options that may address NJDOT’s safety concerns, while still maintaining two-direction traffic on Glenwood Road:

1. Widen Glenwood Road - Widen the existing road to better support two-way traffic and eliminate the present bottleneck condition of traffic backing up onto the railroad tracks due to eastbound vehicles waiting for westbound vehicles to travel through the s - shaped turn. The work would be extensive due to the need for considerable rock excavation. Mr. Rutishauser estimated the cost to be in the $1 million to $2 million range. Negotiations with property owners may be necessary to allow work in an existing rock bluff, and there are potential conflicts with several Village sanitary sewer lines.

Mr. Rutishauser pointed out that the railroad track bed, running from the toe of the slope eastward, belongs to the Borough of Ho-Ho-Kus, so any changes would require their approval/agreement. Mr. Rutishauser stated that he would like to have the Village Councilmembers’ opinions of these preliminary options before approaching the Borough of Ho-Ho-Kus for assistance with the cost. He did note that the Village Engineer from Ho-Ho-Kus was present at some of the meetings with NJDOT. NJDOT will also have to approve any changes.

2. Construct a Bridge over the Railroad Tracks - NJ Transit requires a minimum of 23 feet of vertical clearance under a bridge to their track bed. Considering the vertical thickness of a bridge deck to be in the 4-foot to 6-foot range, and the approximate 20-foot grade on the Ho-Ho-Kus side, preliminary calculations indicate that the slope will be significant and may exceed standard design recommendations.   A bridge will be expensive (in the multi-million-dollar range). The bulk of the bridge will be located in Ho-Ho-Kus. Maintenance of the bridge will be an ongoing issue, and it may be difficult to plow and to control ice and snow.
3. Enhance Signalization at Road Approaches - This option will provide a signalized control of the road. The traffic signals would need to be installed near the triangle of Glenwood Road near Upper Boulevard in Ridgewood, and at the base of Warren Avenue in Ho-Ho-Kus. The signals would have to be integrated with the railroad crossing barriers. The cycle would permit alternating, one-way traffic flow. The cost of this option is estimated to be in the range of $400,000 to $600,000. Mr. Rutishauser noted that during busy traffic periods, there will likely be a queue on either approach, which may create problems in the surrounding neighborhoods. Mr. Rutishauser estimated that this queue may involve at least 8-10 vehicles at a time, particularly during morning drop-off time at the train station. He also pointed out that the traffic signals will probably be at the eye level of anyone sitting on the front porch of their Upper Boulevard house. Ms. Mailander also noted that these traffic signals will be large and bright, and will operate 24 hours a day/7 days a week, shining into the windows of surrounding homes.
4. One-Way Eastbound Traffic Only on Glenwood Road - Ms. Mailander described a fourth option as follows: One-way traffic coming from Glenwood Road down, with a small walkway against the triangle area for drop-off, and the installation of crosswalks across to the stairs. The traffic would then flow one-way back up the triangle, with both a left hand turn and a right hand turn. Two bike racks would also be installed along the walkway and in the vicinity of the triangle area. Mr. Rutishauser noted that this may address one of the NJDOT’s safety concerns involving vehicles dropping off commuters and then making U-turns or K-turns on the railroad track bed. Councilman Voigt suggested prohibiting drop-offs on the tracks and keeping the two-way traffic flow. Mr. Rutishauser felt that this effort would have to be coordinated with Ho-Ho-Kus, as the Ho-Ho-Kus Police Department would be the enforcing authority, and it would be against mostly Ridgewood residents.

Sergeant Chuck explained that there is a timing issue associated with the option of the two-way traffic flow and the traffic light. There is a 90 second wait after a vehicle triggers a photo sensor, and this wait will increase significantly if the train barrier signal is activated.

Councilman Voigt suggested camera-enforcement of the no-drop-off law. Mr. Rutishauser believed this type of enforcement had been eliminated in the State of New Jersey. He also noted that the cameras would be located in Ho-Ho-Kus.

Under questioning by Councilwoman Walsh, Mr. Rutishauser explained that when NJDOT first contacted the Village, they expressed major safety concerns with the at-grade crossing, based on observations, reports from train engineers, and field observations. The NJDOT initially suggested the possibility of closing Glenwood Road. Councilwoman Walsh suggested prohibiting large vehicles on this road. Mr. Rutishauser stated that the road has been posted as prohibiting vehicles weighing over 4 tons. Another problem involves GPS mapping systems directing vehicles, including large trucks, to this location.

Mayor Knudsen suggested constructing physical barriers indicating the height limit of vehicles. She described these structures as containing two pillars and a header. One would be placed close to the top of the hill at the drop-off area, and the other would be placed close to the bottom of the hill, well before the tracks.

Mayor Knudsen pointed out that closing Glenwood Road would require vehicles traveling this very busy roadway to find another route. Students traveling to Willard School will also need to be rerouted, which will add approximately 1½ miles to their trip. The NJDOT will need to be made aware of this.

In response to the suggestion of a physical barrier, Mr. Rutishauser noted that the Federal Highway Administration requires a 14-foot clearance for local roads. Mr. Rutishauser noted that there may be problem with vehicles with items on their roofs, such as bicycles, hitting the barrier. Mayor Knudsen felt that this would not be a common occurrence, and she suggested getting special permission to allow the physical barriers.

Under questioning by Councilman Hache, Sergeant Chuck stated that the majority of people who use the train station are familiar with it; it is the people who are not familiar with it that run into problems. Barriers have been posted in the past to discourage turning around on the tracks; however, people move these barriers. Sergeant Chuck stated that if the Village Council wants to keep two-way traffic on Glenwood Road, the roadway must be improved. He felt the one-way traffic option would be a strong compromise with NJDOT, Ho-Ho-Kus, and Ridgewood.

At the request of Councilman Voigt, Mr. Rutishauser stated that he will ask Ridgewood IT Director, Dylan Hansen, to see if he knows a way to restrict trucks from being directed through this route by GPS mapping programs.

Councilman Voigt felt that keeping the road two-way and making the drop-off area more inviting may encourage people to use it rather than dropping commuters off on the tracks. Sergeant Chuck felt that it was human nature for someone to want to be dropped off as close as possible to the train.  He also noted that improvements would still need to be made to the route. Ms. Mailander noted that the two-way traffic creates the potential for a conflict with vehicles coming up the hill and vehicles stopped at the drop-off.

At the request of Mayor Knudsen, Mr. Rutishauser stated that he will request the NJ Transit reports regarding the train engineers’ observations of vehicles turning around on the tracks. Councilman Voigt stated that he spoke to a NJ Transit representative, who explained to him that within a two-hour period, there were 40 incidences where cars actually followed the tracks. Mayor Knudsen reiterated the importance of receiving these reports before any decisions are made.

Councilman Voigt noted that some businesses located in Ho-Ho-Kus are concerned about the effect of making Glenwood Road a one-way street. Ms. Mailander pointed out that Ho-Ho-Kus businesses should not be adversely affected since the one-way direction leads into Ho-Ho-Kus. Mayor Knudsen stated that she was contacted by the Mayor of Ho-Ho-Kus, who questioned whether any Ridgewood residents had expressed concerns. The Mayor of Ho-Ho-Kus told Mayor Knudsen that there were business owners in Ho-Ho-Kus that expressed concerns. Ms. Mailander stated that she will contact the Ho-Ho-Kus Business Administrator on this issue.

Mayor Knudsen presented a photograph of the existing truck weight limit sign, which she described as small and unnoticeable. She asked if Ridgewood could work with Ho-Ho-Kus to post bigger signage. Councilman Voigt agreed, adding that an existing sign indicating, “no fouling on the tracks” should be made larger, and the word “fouling” should be replaced with the word “stopping”.

2. Garber Square Bike Lane

Patrolman Raymond Tarino, the conductor of the Garber Square Traffic Study, and Sergeant John Chuck were present.

Patrolman Tarino stated that over a two-week period, he observed traffic and conducted traffic counts in the area of Garber Square. Patrolman Tarino broke the site down into the following four areas: the intersection of West Ridgewood Avenue and Wilsey Square; Garber Square Eastbound; Garber Square Westbound; and the intersection of Franklin Avenue and North Broad Street.

Regarding the peak traffic volumes going westbound, Patrolman Tarino observed that there was an average peak volume of 615 vehicles from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.; an average peak volume of 750 vehicles from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.; an average peak volume of 850 vehicles from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.; an average peak volume of 815 vehicles from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.; and an average peak volume of 850 vehicles from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

At 3:45 p.m., the furthest backup for traffic westbound reached the driveway of Stop Shop. Shadowing the furthest vehicle, Patrolman Tarino observed that it took two traffic light cycles to get through Franklin Avenue and Oak Street; two traffic light cycles to get through Franklin Avenue and North Broad Street; and one traffic light cycle to get across West Ridgewood Avenue. The trip took a total of 5.5 minutes. By 4:00 p.m., the traffic had eased and it took only one traffic light cycle for a vehicle to get through each intersection.

At 5:15 p.m., the furthest backup for traffic westbound reached Cottage Place. Shadowing the furthest vehicle, Patrolman Tarino observed that it took six minutes to complete the trip from Cottage Place to West Ridgewood Avenue (two traffic light cycles for each intersection). By 5:30 p.m., traffic had eased and it took only one traffic light cycle for a vehicle to get through each intersection.

Between 3:05 p.m. and 3:25 p.m., North Broad Street, which has a very short traffic light cycle, backs up to East Ridgewood Avenue, allowing only an average of 10 vehicles to make the left turn toward westbound Garber Square at the green light.

Regarding the peak traffic volumes going eastbound, Patrolman Tarino observed that there was an average peak volume of 716 vehicles from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m.; an average peak volume of 785 vehicles from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.; an average peak volume of 731 vehicles from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.; an average peak volume of 714 vehicles from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.; and an average peak volume of 686 vehicles from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Patrolman Tarino stated that, on average, 18,000 vehicles traverse Garber Square on a daily basis. Patrolman Tarino compared this number to a traffic study conducted on West Glen Avenue in 2015, which found that an average of 11,000 to 12,000 vehicles traversed West Glen Avenue on a daily basis.

Garber Square Eastbound traffic averaged two traffic light cycles during peak volume hours. Congestion was not observed on Wilsey Square. From 7:25 a.m. to 8:00 a.m., West Ridgewood Avenue was observed backing up approximately 550 feet or just before Heights Road. It took a vehicle, on average, three to four traffic light cycles to complete their movement through the intersection of West Ridgewood Avenue and Garber Square going eastbound.

There are two, heavily occupied NJ Transit trains present during the 7:25 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. time frame. Pedestrian traffic is very heavy (middle schoolers and commuters), and some of this pedestrian traffic is in the tunnel. There is very heavy vehicular traffic going in and out of Station Plaza. Patrolman Tarino observed a large number of vehicles exiting Washington Place onto West Ridgewood Avenue. None of these delays were caused by a backup on Garber Square eastbound. Most vehicles on West Ridgewood Avenue during this time were attempting to turn left onto Garber Square eastbound. Due to heavy pedestrian traffic over Garber Square from West Ridgewood Avenue, as well as a heavy presence of vehicles exiting Station Plaza from commuter drop-off, much of the green traffic light cycle for left turning vehicles was spent yielding to the right-of-way of vehicles and stopping for pedestrians.

Patrolman Tarino stated that his observations of the traffic light cycles at all four intersections in the area were good and did not need much improvement.

Patrolman Tarino stated that he compiled crash reports from January, 2012 to October, 2014, prior to the bike lanes being installed. There was a total of 30 accidents during this period. The statistics were broken down into the following categories: Reportable Motor Vehicle Accidents ($500 in damage or more or an injury); and Slight Motor Vehicle Accidents (less than $500 in damage and no injuries).  

Patrolman Tarino stated that a significant finding from January, 2012 to October, 2014, was the occurrence of seven reported crashes involving vehicles turning left from West Ridgewood Avenue onto Garber Square eastbound and not yielding to the right-of-way of vehicles exiting Station Plaza. Two of these accidents were same direction sideswipes in marked travel lanes of Garber Square, and there was one reported injury, with no transportation to the hospital. All rear end crashes reported were caused by inattentive driving.

Patrolman Tarino stated that a crash analysis conducted from November, 2014 to May, 2017 found that there were 32 accidents during this period. Two of these reported crashes involved vehicles turning left from West Ridgewood Avenue onto Garber Square eastbound. These vehicles did not yield to the right-of-way of vehicles exiting Station Plaza. Three of the four same-direction sideswipes were reportedly caused by vehicles improperly using bike lanes to pass. All rear end crashes reported were caused by inattentive driving. One pedestrian was struck on Broad Street and Franklin Avenue; however, this person left the scene prior to the arrival of emergency personnel. There were seven reported injuries; however, no one was transported to the hospital.

Patrolman Tarino compared the total number of motor vehicle accidents that occurred during the period of January, 2012 and October, 2014, prior to the installation of the bike lane, with those that occurred during the period of November, 2014 to May, 2017, after the installation of the bike lane, as follows:

                        Streets                                     1/2012 to 10/2014       11/2014 to 5/2017

• West Ridgewood/Wilsey Square                    14                                11
• North Broad Street/Franklin Avenue             6                                  6
• Garber Square Westbound                              2                                  9
• Garber Square Eastbound                                       8                                              6

Patrolman Tarino made the following recommendations:

For Garber Square Westbound:

• Extend the combined, right-turn-only/bike lane from 180 feet to 360 feet (in front of Pease Library, after the left curve), which will allow a queuing of a total of 18 cars (currently 9)

For Garber Square Eastbound:

• Extend the combined, right-turn-only/bike lane from 148 feet to 205 feet, which will allow an additional 3 cars to queue. More vehicles in the right lanes, turning right on red, will allow more traffic to flow, easing delays.

For West Ridgewood Avenue:

• Install a lead green arrow on the West Ridgewood side of the traffic light, combined with a pedestrian countdown, which would give vehicles turning left the ability to make the turn unobstructed by pedestrians crossing Garber Square or vehicles exiting Station Plaza
• Remove the first two, of the 15-minute parking spaces along the south curb of West Ridgewood Avenue, to extend the right-turn-lane by 40 feet, allowing more cars to queue that are attempting to turn right onto Wilsey Square, and giving vehicles going straight into Station Plaza the ability to go around stopped vehicles waiting to turn left onto Garber Square from West Ridgewood Avenue.

Patrolman Tarino stated that he would not change the traffic light cycles at any locations, as they appear to be maximizing their efficiency for the traffic volume.

Patrolman Tarino stated that a representative from NJ Transit told him that there is a total of 210 bus movements through Garber Square on a daily basis.

Ms. Mailander thanked Patrolman Tarino, Sergeant Chuck, and Mr. Rutishauser for all the time and effort that went into the preparation of this traffic report. Ms. Mailander stated that she was very pleased with the recommendations, as they may allow the bike lanes to remain while improving the flow of traffic.

Councilwoman Walsh pointed out that the traffic flow will be significantly impacted when the KS Broad multi-unit development is built.

Councilman Voigt described the traffic study as great and the recommendations as helpful. He also expressed concern with the increase of traffic from the KS Broad, Dayton and Enclave multi-unit developments. Councilman Voigt noted that discussions at the Planning Board level suggested changing five traffic lights to actuated lights on Franklin Avenue, along the corridor from Garber Square all the way down to East Ridgewood Avenue/Maple Avenue, to help with the queue. Sergeant Chuck stated that actuated lights would reduce wait time by only seconds during the peak times; however, actuated lights would make a tremendous improvement during off-peak times.

Mayor Knudsen thanked Patrolman Tarino for “the best report ever”, filled with a wealth of information. Mayor Knudsen stated that she was surprised at the amount of traffic traveling through the area. Mayor Knudsen suggested taking away the bike lane, create two lanes and painting share-the-road-arrows (sharrows). Patrolman Tarino felt westbound traffic was properly utilizing the roadway without the two lanes. Patrolman Tarino had a significant concern with creating two lanes going eastbound, because larger vehicles, such as busses or trucks with trailers, may cross over to the right lane when making a left turn. Patrolman Tarino suggested keeping the existing configuration of the roadway and considering it as a one-lane roadway, with a bike lane.

It was the consensus of the Village Council members to implement the recommendations of Patrolman Tarino. At Mayor Knudsen’s request, Patrolman Tarino will e-mail a drawing detailing the proposed extensions of the right-turn-only/bike lanes.

3. Boards and Committees - Fields Committee

Timothy Cronin, Director of Parks and Recreation, was present.

Ms. Mailander pointed out that the composition and responsibilities of the Fields Committee are part of the overall Athletic Fields and Recreational Facilities Use Policy dated January 1, 2007 and approved under Resolution #07-12.

Councilman Hache questioned why the Fields Committee did not have by-laws. Referring to the composition and responsibilities of the Fields Committee, as stated in Resolution #07-12, Councilman Hache questioned why members of this committee are not appointed by the Village Council, since the Fields Committee advises the Village Council.

Councilman Hache pointed out that Resolution #07-12 states that a key purpose of the Fields Committee is to respond to public inquiries and complaints. Resolution #07-12 also authorizes the Fields Committee to institute disciplinary action, including restricting access to groups who abuse the Field/Facility Use privileges. Resolution #07-12 also identifies the primary responsibility of the Fields Committee as the allocation of fields and facilities. Councilman Hache suggested that the allocation of fields and facilities may be handled more efficiently through the Village and the Board of Education, using software that would not only manage scheduling of fields, but it could provide activity registrations, facilities reservations, league scheduling, custom reporting and dashboards, past memberships, and point-of-sale inventory control for an overall picture of facility usage.

Councilman Hache recalled that, previously, there was a Sports Council that handled grievances and complaints. Mr. Cronin explained that there currently is a grievance process. A group or individual with a grievance first goes before the board of the particular sport in which they are involved. If satisfaction is not received, the group or individual would then go before the Fields Committee. If the group or individual wishes to appeal the decision further, they could then go before the Parks, Recreation and Conservation Board (PRC) Board for a final determination.

Mayor Knudsen expressed a concern that, under the current process, there was no higher authority than the PRC Board.

Councilman Hache spoke of the importance of impartiality when handling grievance appeals. Mr. Cronin noted that there are no members affiliated with sports on the PRC Board. Councilman Hache suggested eliminating the Fields Committee in the grievance appeal process.

Village Attorney Matthew Rogers agreed that removing the Fields Committee from this process made sense. He pointed out that neither members of the Village Council or members of the Board of Education should get involved in the grievance appeal process. If sports groups cannot handle and resolve grievances on their own, Mr. Rogers suggested having someone who oversees the sports groups make a decision or determination.

Mayor Knudsen suggested having a Parks and Recreation Sub-Committee for the handling of grievances.

Councilwoman Walsh stated that she was on the Fields Committee for two years. Grievances usually came first to the Fields Committee and then to the specific sport associations such as Ridgewood Baseball and Softball Association (RBSA) or Ridgewood Lacrosse Association. Councilwoman Walsh cited two instances involving neighbor complaints, and these issue were addressed by the sport associations themselves. Other grievances included field monopolizing or field lighting. Mr. Rogers noted that these types of grievances are easily handled. In instances when a participant in the sports organization is aggrieved by something that happened within the sports organization, another level of unaffiliated, independent, objective review is needed.

Under questioning by Councilman Hache, Mr. Cronin explained that the volunteer who schedules the fields does it for all the groups. He receives approximately 10,000 e-mails each season. Mr. Cronin did not feel the Village had enough staff to offer the individual attention that scheduling requires. There is a calendar, indicating the blocks of time allocated to each sports group, posted on the Recreation Division website. Outside of the sports groups, residents e-mail Mr. Cronin for a request to use a field. Mr. Cronin then contacts the volunteer scheduler to see if an accommodation can be made.

Mayor Knudsen recalled receiving approximately 100 e-mails from parents concerned that soccer camp would not take place the Monday after school dismissed for the summer. A software scheduling system connecting the Village and the Board of Education could have resolved this issue long before it became a matter of urgency.

Ms. Mailander stated that she will look into the scheduling software; but she noted that the Village does not have the staff to devote the amount of time needed to schedule field usage.

Mr. Rogers suggested that the Board of Education may already be using scheduling software for their indoor facilities. Ms. Mailander stated that this will be investigated.

4. Endorse Bergen County Open Space Trust Fund Program - The                                               James Rose Center

Ms. Mailander explained that the James Rose Center is applying to the Bergen County Open Space Trust for a grant to repair and improve the Zendo Pavilion, located on the property known as the James Rose Center. Ms. Mailander explained that this is similar to the Community Development Block Grant, where the Village Council acknowledges the non-profit organization, and feels their cause is worthy. No funds from the Village are obligated. The requirement for endorsing resolutions from a municipality’s governing body for open space is a new procedure.

5. Title 59 Approval - Painting Curbs Yellow

Councilwoman Walsh explained that the yellow lines indicating “no parking” at the end of roads need to be repainted if they have faded. Vehicles are currently parking right up to the stop signs. Vehicles parked at the end of roads obstruct site vision at intersections. Both Councilwoman Walsh and Mayor Knudsen are observing this dangerous situation on the streets where they live.

It was the consensus of the Village Councilmembers to approve the painting of curbs yellow to indicate, “no parking”.

6. Amend Chapter 145 - Fees - Tree Protection

Ms. Mailander explained that when this ordinance was adopted, a fee ordinance was not introduced. The ordinance amending Chapter 145 will require a Tree Removal and Protection Permit, however, the fee will be $0.00. If a tree is taken down and the owner does not wish to replace it with another tree on his/her own property, the owner will be required to pay a Replacement Tree Value Fee of $225.00 per tree.   These funds will be put into a pool to purchase trees in areas throughout the Village. Ms. Mailander noted that a property owner may remove invasive species of trees located on their property without replacing them.

1. Operations
2. Appoint Clean Communities Coordinator and Recycling Program                                            Coordinator

Ms. Mailander explained that John Spano, a long-time employee of the Village, is retiring shortly. Richard Calbi, Director of Operations, is recommending the appointment of Daniel Kiely, Superintendent of Public Works, as the Clean Communities Coordinator and Recycling Coordinator effective July 1, 2017. Mr. Kiely is a Certified Public Works Manager and has completed the necessary course work and training for his Clean Communities Coordinator Certification. He is in the process of attending Rutgers University for his Recycling Coordinator Certification. These positions are required by statute.

It was the consensus of the Village Council to prepare a resolution appoint Mr. Kiely to these two positions.

2. Purchase of Property

Mayor Knudsen explained the proposal to purchase the Elks Club building to house all of the Water Department Operations under one roof, making it a more effective operation. This is an opportunity to expand the Village’s municipal campus. Negotiations have taken place.

Ms. Mailander explained that, at the Village Council Public Meeting on July 12, 2017, a Capital Improvement Fund Ordinance will be introduced to fund this purchase. The ordinance will then be considered for adoption in August. This purchase will bring all the employees, controls, administration, and lab from the current building located in Midland Park, NJ, to one building at the Village Hall Municipal Complex. The Glen Avenue Water Facility will remain.

Mayor Knudsen noted that this purchase will bring the Water Department to the municipal complex at a much lower cost and at a more efficient operating capacity than what was indicated in a footprint study conducted in 2016.

Councilman Walsh stated that she was opposed to purchasing the Elks Club building. Councilwoman Walsh stated her reasons for opposing this purchase as follows: only 20 employees will be using the building; the building is in need of repair, bringing the total cost to approximately $3 million; there is available space throughout Bergen County to house the facility, particularly since Ridgewood Water services other towns; this purchase has not been discussed with the other towns serviced by Ridgewood Water; and the money could be used for other purposes.

Councilman Voigt also stated that he was opposed to purchasing the Elks Club building. Councilman Voigt expressed a concern with the potential cost to the Village from a pending lawsuit with the other municipalities serviced by Ridgewood Water, asserting that Ridgewood taxpayers benefited by the increase rate by offset of taxes.

Mayor Knudsen noted that regardless of the lawsuit, the operations of Ridgewood Water need to be improved and need to continue servicing customers in all the municipalities. Mayor Knudsen pointed out that the building in Midland Park is prone to flooding. She also noted that the movement of the building to the municipal complex will make it easier for residents to pay their water bills.

Mr. Rogers explained that the complainant in the pending lawsuit is asserting that the Village of Ridgewood allocated expenses that should have been adjusted through the Water Utility Budget. The litigation called for the Village to pay for damages that occurred as a result of the improper allocation. Mayor Knudsen pointed out that this is not money that comes from the Water Department.

Councilman Hache stated that he was initially concerned with the purchase of the Elks Building, particularly because it is in need of repair. He noted, however, that Village Hall has become very crowded. Councilman Hache felt this is an opportunity to consolidate the Water Department operations more efficiently and geographically in one place. It will probably be the last opportunity to expand the municipal complex.

7. MANAGER’S REPORT

Dog License Renewals - Ms. Mailander stated that the Health Department would like to remind everyone that the 2017 Dog License Renewals are due during the month of June. A $20 late fee will be charged for all renewals received after June 30, 2017.

Glenwood Railroad Crossing - Ms. Mailander reminded everyone that the deadline to submit comments about the Glenwood Railroad Crossing is July 7, 2017. Information can be found on the Village website.

July 4^th Fireworks - Ms. Mailander stated that details are posted on the Village website, as well as the July 4^th Committee website, www.ridgewoodjuly4.com. Tickets can be purchased on-line. There will be a Super 50/50 Raffle Fundraiser to support this all-volunteer event. The tickets cost $100 and a total of 600 tickets will be sold. The grand prize is $25,000 and there are ten, $500 prizes. Prize money is subject to taxation.

Senior Tuesdays at Graydon Pool - Ms. Mailander reported that Senior Tuesdays began a few weeks ago. The first day, only one senior citizen attended, as the day was very hot. On the second day, June 27^th, it was a beautiful day and twenty-six senior citizens attended. Senior Tuesdays came about as a Bar Mitzvah Project by Siobhan Winograd, who visited with the senior citizens and cosponsored paying for their lunch. Each Friend of Ridgewood assisted with the initial funding and a good time was had by all. Transportation was offered; however, it was not utilized.

Kasschau Memorial Shell - Ms. Mailander reminded everyone that every Tuesday and Thursday evening at 8:30 p.m. there is a performance at the Kasschau Memorial Shell. Bus transportation will be provided to the Kasschau Memorial Shell for Ridgecrest residents on July 18^th and July 25^th. Chairs will also be provided.  

Graydon Pool - Ms. Mailander reported that Graydon Pool has been very popular this summer. Graydon Pool Seasonal Membership Badges are available for purchase on-line by clicking on the photograph of Graydon Pool on the Village website, which will take you to Community Pass.

Ridgewood Guild - Ms. Mailander announced that the Ridgewood Guild has begun their “Music in the Night” and “Art in the Park” programs, which will be held every Friday night through September 1, 2017.   These programs provide various types of music throughout the Central Business District (CBD) and artwork for sale at Memorial Park at Van Neste Square, benefiting the Ridgewood Guild.

Ridgewood Guild - Movies in the Park - Ms. Mailander announced that the Ridgewood Guild will be showing movies on Wednesday evenings in Memorial Park at Van Neste Square. There is a schedule posted in the lobby of Village Hall and on the Ridgewood Guild’s website.

July 4^th Closures - Ms. Mailander reported that Village Hall will be closed on July 4^th. There will be no recycling or garbage pick-up and the Recycling Center will be closed.

10. COUNCIL REPORTS

Councilman Voigt thanked Siobhan Winograd for putting together Senior Tuesdays at Graydon Pool. It was a very enjoyable event for everyone who attended.

Planning Board - Councilman Voigt reported that the Planning Board met in a special session on Monday, June 26, 2017. KS Broad, a multi-unit development located on the corner of Franklin Avenue and Broad Street, was approved, with a number of stipulations. Councilman Voigt spoke highly of the developer, who has been working to make sure the development is one that the Village will like.

Library Board - Councilman Voigt stated that the Library Board met on June 27, 2017. There will be a three-day fundraising event scheduled for October 18^th to October 21^st called, “Caddystacks”.

Ridgewood Arts Council (RAC) - Councilwoman Walsh reminded everyone that Ashley Zielinski will be holding a 3D Printing Workshop on July 29, 2017.

Central Business District Advisory Committee (CBDAC) - Councilman Hache stated that the website is almost complete. Each Ridgewood business will get a registration link and the owners will be responsible for the content and the appearance. The CBDAC is continuing to look at the process of beautifying the downtown area. CBDAC recommended that a portion of the tax revenue that commercial properties pay to the Village be invested back into the Central Business District (CBD). Councilman Hache thanked the volunteers that have been working on beautifying the downtown area. Cynthia Halaby and the Women Gardeners of Ridgewood have done a tremendous job at Van Neste Square. The Shade Tree Commission and CDBAC will combine their efforts and look at the existing inventory of tree and tree wells to see where improvements can be made. Decorations are being purchased, which include banners and lighting. Ridgewood is committed to supporting businesses as much as possible.

Councilman Hache spoke of his pride in all the work and effort that went into providing Senior Tuesdays at Graydon Pool.

July 4^th Committee - Mayor Knudsen invited everyone to visit the Ridgewood July 4^th website to check out the planned festivities. The Ridgewood July 4^th Celebration is an all-volunteer program. It is a community-funded event that receives no direct funding from the Village of Ridgewood. Mayor Knudsen encouraged everyone to visit the businesses that support this event.   Requests for information on how to purchase raffle tickets can be e-mailed to, info@ridgewoodjuly4.com, and this information can be found on the website. The theme for this year’s celebration is, “Honoring Those Who Serve”, recognizing and honoring the many men and women who dedicate their work and life to others through the military, police, fire, EMS, or Civil Service. Festivities will begin at 9:00 a.m. with the flag raising at Wilsey Square, with the parade following. Firework gates open at 6:00 p.m. Mayor Knudsen invited everyone to attend this outstanding event.

125^th Graduating Class of Ridgewood High School - Mayor Knudsen congratulated the Ridgewood High School Class of 2017 and wished them luck in their future endeavors. The graduation was beautiful and it was a treat for the Village Councilmembers to be up front and close to the new graduates.

Community Relations Advisory Board (CRAB) - Mayor Knudsen stated that CRAB met last week. There was a spirited discussion about how to move forward. Mayor Knudsen met with the Chairperson and one member this morning and shared a very productive and positive dialogue.

Planning Board - Mayor Knudsen explained that the Planning Board approves site plan applications. Site plan applications are compliant applications that are legally, permissible applications that comply with zoning laws. The Zoning Ordinances, for the multi-unit developments, were adopted by Village Council majority on March 23, 2016. The Planning Board opportunities exist only to create stipulations and protections for the Village, as best they can.

Mayor Knudsen asked Mr. Rogers to explain the reason that a public hearing, pertaining to the settlement with KS Broad and Enclave on a Declaratory Judgement Action, is scheduled for September 13, 2017.

Mr. Rogers explained that in 2015, the Village of Ridgewood filed a Declaratory Judgement Action to deal with the fair-share obligation, that every town in New Jersey has, to provide affordable housing within its boundaries. Part and parcel to that, was an aspect of the development plan for the Village that dealt with the Village’s own affordable housing needs, which has been ongoing since the obligation was first established by the initial Mount Laurel Decision. The Superior Court Law Division is now in charge of every town’s affordable housing obligation and must make sure that this obligation is adhered to and properly dispensed to provide a realistic opportunity for affordable housing to be built and constructed in each town. In the Declaratory Judgement Process, it is typical for a Judge to appoint a Court-Appointed Master to oversee each town’s progress with regard to coming up with its newest, fair-share obligation or affordable housing plan. An affordable housing plan details how a town will meet their obligation, including a determination of location and establishing the allocated need of units over the course of the next 15 to 20 years. Last year, ordinances were established for four particular sites in the CBD that allow for multi-unit developments, along with a component of affordable housing in each one of those projects. As directed by the Court, the Village has been meeting for over one year with the developers to discuss and establish parameters for reasonable development of these projects. These discussions included some deviations from what the applications were before the Planning Board. (Mr. Rogers noted that when an application is a conforming application, such as the application submitted by KS Broad, it means that what they proposed on the site in the development application conformed to the requirements and the criteria of the ordinances that were adopted last year. When an applicant does that, and has a site plan application that fully conforms to the ordinance, there is very little that a Planning Board can do to change the criteria of the development proposed.) Through some of the development discussions, the Village received some deviations that are believed to be beneficial to proper development. With the KS Broad and the Enclave projects, agreements and understandings were reached with the developers that will be brought before the public. The law requires the holding of a Public Meeting to settle any of these matters that deal with this particular litigation. In order to be as transparent as possible, the public hearing was scheduled for September 13, 2017, so that people are back from vacations and it can be fully discussed and explored by the public in front of the Village Council. The terms of whatever conceptual agreement the Village has will be discussed at that hearing. The Village Council will then make a determination whether or not there should be adjustments to those terms, how they feel about the terms, and possibly agree upon a settlement. This settlement can still be turned down by the Court; however, Mr. Rogers understood that the Court Appointed Master has given his support for the concepts that have been discussed.

Mayor Knudsen thanked everyone involved in Senior Tuesday. Mayor Knudsen said that talks have begun on expanding a few extra days for Ridgecrest Seniors.

Mayor Knudsen thanked the Women Gardeners, Cynthia Halaby, and Barbara Ferrante for the beautiful work they did at Van Neste Square.

9. PUBLIC COMMENTS

Susanne Riggio, 64 Glenwood Road, stated her resounding support for better signage prohibiting turning around on the railroad tracks on Glenwood Road. Ms. Riggio also noted that a commuter in a beige SUV has been parking on a regular basis on Glenwood Road, Hillcrest Road, and Upper Boulevard. Ms. Riggio spoke in support of expanding the Senior Tuesday Program at Graydon Pool for Ridgecrest Seniors.

Jeanne Harris, 625 Hillcrest Road, suggested better signage at the Glenwood Road Railroad Crossing, more enforcement, and higher fines for violations before a decision is made to change the traffic flow or to close Glenwood Road. Ms. Harris expressed surprise that the need for a traffic study was not discussed, considering the impact this would have on Hillcrest Road, Upper Boulevard, Glenwood Road and surrounding streets. Hillcrest Road and Upper Boulevard are currently very busy streets in the morning. There are over 1,000 households with children that attend Willard School. Ms. Harris expressed concern that additional traffic on these streets will reduce emergency response time, create safety concerns, and negatively impact air quality in the area.

Ms. Harris stated that, as the Vice President of Ridgecrest, she wished to thanked the Village Council for their support of Senior Tuesdays at Graydon Pool. Ms. Harris invited the members to visit Ridgecrest.

Bradford Matthews, 366 Glenwood Road, supported the need for larger signs and larger fines for violations at the Glenwood Road Railroad Crossing. He like Mayor Knudsen’s idea of the height restriction sign. Mr. Matthews also felt the sidewalk could be moved over to allow the widening of the roadway.

Mr. Matthews objected to spending $3 million to move Ridgewood Water operations to the municipal campus.

Jane Remis, 118 Madison Place, asked for a stairway from the train platform down by the bear statute, so people do not have to cross Franklin Avenue to go shopping. She felt this would be especially helpful for senior citizens living at Ridgecrest.

Ms. Remis noted that, according to the NJ Safe Routes to School website, children under 10 years old should not be walking to school alone as they are easily distracted and not mature enough to correctly follow pedestrian safety rules. Ridge School students are under 10 years ago. Ms. Remis spoke in favor of sidewalks along Clinton Avenue, noting that a study conducted by the Federal Highway Administration stated that the likelihood of a sidewalk being the site of a pedestrian crash is 88.2% lower than a site without sidewalks, after factoring in traffic volume and speed limits. About 8% of all pedestrian fatalities occur while walking along roadways without sidewalks. Ms. Remis disagreed with the position of 14 out of 16 Clinton Avenue residents, that allowing free flowing traffic along Clinton Avenue would create a safety hazard for pedestrians with or without sidewalks. Ms. Remis pointed out that pedestrians safely walk on sidewalks along Godwin Avenue, which is a busier street. Opening up Clinton Avenue during the day will accommodate service vehicles so that the road will be traffic/parking-free during the closed hours. Ms. Remis agreed with a suggestion made by the Clinton Avenue residents to paint a pedestrian lane on the roadway.

Mary Meakem, 630 Morningside Road, stated that as she was gathering signatures for the petition against the closing of Glenwood Road, neighbors passionately expressed how this would negatively impact them. Ms. Meakem thanked the Village Council for considering other options.

Boyd Loving, 342 South Irving Street, referred to photographs posted on social media depicting accidents on Glenwood Road. Mr. Loving observed that larger signage was needed. Mr. Loving noted that, if Glenwood Road is made one-way, larger signage and/or barriers would still be needed. Mr. Loving asked for statistics on whether or not NJ Transit ever posted one of their own Police Officers at this location to enforce the law that vehicles are prohibited from turning around on the tracks. Mr. Loving also expressed a concern with problems that will be created resulting from GPS mapping systems directing vehicles to Glenwood Road without drivers knowing that it is a one-way roadway.

Mr. Loving expressed concern with spending $3 million dollars on moving the Ridgewood Water Operations to the municipal campus. He noted that technology equipment by today’s standards is getting smaller and the number of employees needed to operate it is reduced. Mr. Loving asked if the facility in Midland Park, NJ would be sold to help offset the relocation costs.

Joseph Ferrante, 610 Hillcrest Road, thanked the Village Council for the thoughtful debate concerning solutions to the State’s safety concerns on Glenwood Road. Mr. Ferrante felt that the Village’s representatives in the State Legislator, namely Senator Kevin O’Toole, Assemblyman Kevin Rooney, and Assemblyman David Russo, should be contacted. Mr. Ferrante noted that since these legislators are not on the Senate Transportation Committee, Senator Robert Gordon, a representative of an adjacent jurisdiction, should be contacted. Mr. Ferrante suggested making smaller changes around the critical turn on Glenwood Road, such as the relocation of a telephone pole, the removal of a 10-foot asphalt embankment, and improving, moving, reducing, realigning or relocating the sidewalk. The traffic impact that would result in the closing of Glenwood Road is significant and cannot be minimized. Maple Avenue, in particular, will be greatly impacted. Mr. Ferrante expressed concern with a reduction in emergency response time. Mr. Ferrante felt it was important for the Village to show, through better signage and enforcement, that affirmative steps are being taken, which will allow additional time to make a good judgement on Glenwood Road. Mr. Ferrante also noted that if the efficiencies of the Ho-Ho-Kus Train Station are jeopardized, there will be more traffic at the Ridgewood Train Station. He urged the Village Council to consider the impact on the Ridgewood Train Station, as well.

10. RESOLUTION TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION

Deputy Village Clerk Donna Jackson read Resolution #17-196 to go into Closed Session as follows:

11. ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business to come before the Village Council, on a motion by Councilman Hache, seconded by Councilwoman Walsh, and carried unanimously by voice vote, the Village Council’s Work Session was adjourned at 11:56 p.m.

                                                                                                _____________________________

                                                                                                                     Susan Knudsen      

                                                                                                                           Mayor

_____________________________

            Donna M. Jackson

          Deputy Village Clerk