Village Council Work Session Minutes 20150527
A REGULAR WORK SESSION OF THE VILLAGE COUNCIL OF THE VILLAGE OF RIDGEWOOD HELD IN THE SYDNEY V. STOLDT, JR., COURTROOM OF THE RIDGEWOOD VILLAGE HALL, 131 NORTH MAPLE AVENUE, RIDGEWOOD, NEW JERSEY, ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 2015, AT 7:30 P.M.
1. CALL TO ORDER – OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT – ROLL CALL – FLAG SALUTE – MOMENT OF SILENCE
Mayor Aronsohn called the meeting to order at 7:31 P.M., and read the Statement of Compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act. At roll call, the following were present: Councilmembers Hauck, Knudsen, Pucciarelli, Sedon, and Mayor Aronsohn. Also present were Roberta Sonenfeld, Village Manager; Donna Jackson, Deputy Village Clerk; and Matthew Rogers, Village Attorney.
Mayor Aronsohn led those in attendance in the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag and asked for a moment of silence in honor of the American men and women serving in our Armed Forces, as well as those who serve as first responders in Ridgewood and throughout the United States.
2. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
Mayor Aronsohn asked if anyone from the public wished to speak regarding any of the agenda items.
Anne Loving, 342 South Irving Street, noted that it has been more than a year since the anonymous email was sent to Councilman Sedon’s former employer, the Staten Island Advance, which was apparently sent immediately after the number of signatures necessary to allow his candidacy was verified. Ms. Loving stated that this incident should be remembered, because less than a year from now, three Village Council seats will be up for re-election. The person who sent the email should be identified so that this cannot happen to another candidate. It is Ms. Loving’s opinion that this did not happen just to Councilman Sedon, but to the entire Village, and should be viewed as something that scarred or tarnished Ridgewood’s formerly clean election process. A number of steps have been taken to investigate the matter, including discussions between Councilman Sedon and his former employer (although Councilman Sedon was denied the opportunity to view the email); the filing of a complaint with the New Jersey State Board of Elections by Councilman Sedon, as well as with the Ridgewood Police Department; an inquiry filed by Ms. Mailander with the Election Commission; a letter sent by former Councilman Tom Riche to Bergen County Prosecutor John Molinelli (to which, as Ms. Sonenfeld reported several months later, a response was received saying that it was not a matter for the Prosecutor’s Office, and was forwarded to the Election Commission); and the Ridgewood News also contacted the Staten Island Advance. Ms. Loving asked if it would be possible to get an update on the status of the situation.
Councilman Sedon responded by thanking Police Chief John Ward for his assistance. Councilman Sedon recalled that all of this occurred during or immediately after the certification process for his candidacy. In fact, Councilman Sedon intended to inform his employers of his candidacy the very next day, but before he had the chance to do that, they already had information alleging that Councilman Sedon was being forced out of his job due to some alleged conflict of interest that never existed. All of that occurred on a Friday, and the following Monday, Councilman Sedon began filing complaints with the Ridgewood Police Department. Councilman Sedon also began contacting every department or agency in the State of New Jersey that had the word “election” in its title, including the County Board of Elections; the State Board of Elections; the Ethics Committee; and the New Jersey State Election Law Commission. After going through all of those, Councilman Sedon felt no progress was being made, until former Councilman Tom Riche wrote a letter on Councilman Sedon’s behalf to the Bergen County Prosecutor. Mr. Molinelli’s actions apparently helped to move the situation forward. After several months passed, Councilman Sedon had still received no responses, although he thought he would have been contacted if there was an investigation. Therefore, a few months ago, he started contacting some of the same commissions, agencies, and departments again, to find that no one had heard anything about his case. Finally, Councilman Sedon spoke to someone at the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission, who informed him that they only deal with financial disclosure statements or any kind of finance issues, and his particular situation is not something that they would be involved with. Thus far, Councilman Sedon said he has not been contacted by anyone, so he assumes that there is no on-going investigation, and there is nothing that the State or any other entity is doing about it at this time. Councilman Sedon has contacted several attorneys privately about pursuing the matter. He ended by saying that the coward who sent the email probably thought s/he was very clever, and probably thought that the email would finish Councilman Sedon’s candidacy, but Councilman Sedon proved her/him wrong. It was a terrible experience for him, especially feeling like he was in limbo with respect to what his employer was going to do. In the end, Councilman Sedon left voluntarily, because the relationship was damaged at that point, but his employer still would not give him a copy of the email.
Ms. Sonenfeld added that the Police Department tried to contact people at the State level, but they did not get very far. She pointed out that the Village has no authority in this case, which went from the County to the State level. Councilman Sedon interjected that if there was some sort of investigation going on, one might assume that he would be interviewed as part of that process. Ms. Sonenfeld and Chief Ward advised Councilman Sedon to contact people at the State level, because Councilman Sedon, as the object of the investigation, would have such authority, whereas the Village did not.
Councilwoman Knudsen commented that, as another candidate for office running at the same time, she would have guessed that she would be the prime suspect in the investigation, but to date, no one has contacted her to ask her any questions about what happened. She wondered if there is some type of mechanism within the Village’s system of government to create its own investigative team who might conduct an investigation to see if there is anything that needs to be examined more closely in the election process.
Ms. Loving pointed out that last year she requested that funds be allocated to help uncover the identity of the perpetrator. She believes it is appropriate that all of these other steps were taken first, but now that they have all turned out to be unproductive, Ms. Loving strongly urged the Councilmembers to allocate the funds as she requested. She suggested that they could be used to hire a private investigator, and/or perhaps an attorney who can work in New York and New Jersey, because the former employer is located on Staten Island, or whatever the Councilmembers feel would be most appropriate. Ms. Loving believes this is taxpayer money that would be well spent on such efforts because there is another election coming up, and there is a collective outrage throughout the Village about the incident. Ms. Loving thinks that the incident was unethical, although it does not seem to be criminal, and should be investigated. Councilwoman Knudsen agreed with Ms. Loving, calling it an attempt to interfere with Village elections in order to affect the outcome of an election.
There were no other comments from the public at this time, and Mayor Aronsohn closed the time for public comment.
3. DISCUSSION
Ms. Sonenfeld explained that these discussion items are meant to introduce issues to be discussed and acted upon at the Special Public Meeting, which will follow.
a. Parking:
1.) Award Contract – Professional Parking Consulting Services – Hudson Street Parking Lot – Automated Parking Systems vs. Traditional Garage
Ms. Sonenfeld commented that this is a request to award a contract to Walker Parking Consultants, who would perform a comparison evaluation of automated parking systems versus traditional parking systems for the Hudson Street parking lot. The importance of this is based on the fact that this needs to be done prior to preparing an RFP to design a parking garage. Ms. Sonenfeld noted that because time is of the essence in order to move forward with the parking initiative, it is hoped that this could be completed by the end of June, with an RFP prepared by the end of the summer, and the contract awarded by the fall. Construction bids could be solicited as early as winter 2015.
Councilwoman Knudsen noted that in November 2014, there was a $100,000 bond ordinance authorized for an environmental and engineering survey of that location. Councilwoman Knudsen asked if Ms. Sonenfeld could update on those funds. Ms. Sonenfeld answered that after the Special Public Meeting has concluded; there will be a discussion about putting more money in that bond ordinance for pre-construction activities for the Hudson Street garage. Ms. Sonenfeld commented that all but approximately $700 of the funds are now encumbered for both the environment, as well as the engineering survey. The environmental survey is currently in Phase 1. Depending upon the findings, more monies may have to be spent, so there may be later requests for additions to the capital budget to cover this, as well as the design phase. Councilwoman Knudsen stated that her reason for asking was because the cover sheet provided by Christopher Rutishauser, Village Engineer, indicates that there is a question as to whether it would be a traditional parking garage versus an automated garage, but the cover letter from Walker Parking Consultants indicates that the site is only 100 feet wide, and does not have the needed dimensions for an efficient self-park garage, leaving the Village with only one option. Councilwoman Knudsen commented that she is surprised and disappointed that this information was not available prior to doing all of this other work, because there should have been a more comprehensive approach to the parking garage, which concerns her. Ms. Sonenfeld stated that Mr. Rutishauser and Mr. Rooney, Director of the Parking Utility, met with representatives from Walker Parking Consultants last week. A preliminary design was also done of the site by Village engineers, and they found that a traditional parking garage could be accommodated there. However, all designs will be considered.
Mayor Aronsohn explained to the members of the public that there are three preliminary steps that need to be taken before the Village can move forward with the garage. One of the steps is the environmental study, which has already begun and has provided some results; another step is the land survey; and the final step is to answer the question that has been raised as to whether a traditional parking garage should be erected or if the Village should go with an automated garage. This analysis would help the Councilmembers to address that last issue.
Mr. Rutishauser stated that his office did extensive research on how to fit a traditional parking garage, as well as an automated parking garage, at the Hudson Street site. Although the plot does not have the depth needed for a traditional parking garage, the 50-foot right-of-way means that the garage could be cantilevered over the sidewalk, which is just one of several options that can be considered. After the proposal was written, Mr. Rutishauser forwarded the drawings to Walker Parking Consultants, which they will most likely use in their analysis of the site. Councilwoman Knudsen asked Mr. Rutishauser to repeat the information, and he pointed out that there is a 50-foot right-of-way on Hudson Street, which can be absorbed by the parking garage. It is also possible to narrow the street a bit, or take away some of the street parking. The sidewalk could also be moved. The option he mentioned before would be to create a cantilevered structure using the right-of-way. Ms. Sonenfeld interjected that there may be a similar situation on North Walnut Street, and the consensus among the members of the Steering Committee is that the study could be leveraged against the North Walnut Street garage, when that time comes. Councilwoman Knudsen asked which Steering Committee was Ms. Sonenfeld referring to, and Ms. Sonenfeld answered that it was the one formed several weeks ago to discuss the parking situation, and its members are Councilman Sedon; Mayor Aronsohn; Mr. Rutishauser; Mr. Rooney; and Ms. Sonenfeld. The purpose of the committee is to focus on getting a parking garage built as soon as possible, removing any barriers to building the garage, and to make sure that the appropriate steps are taken to install the garage sooner rather than later. Councilwoman Knudsen noted that not having participated in the meetings, or being able to see minutes of the meetings, makes it difficult for her to make any assessment or decision on this matter.
Councilman Pucciarelli stated that he welcomes the proposal, because he believes that before any forward progress can be made, certain steps must be taken. He recalled that in the early 1990s, there was a garage proposal for the area at Franklin Street and Walnut Street that started with an architectural rendering, although that garage was not built, for which Councilman Pucciarelli is thankful, because garage technology has evolved a great deal since that time. Councilman Pucciarelli also noted that if this technology is chosen, it will result in a very different poured concrete structure than a traditional garage structure would be. Councilman Pucciarelli stated that he would like to know to what extent the poured structure is unique to any particular system, because technology changes and it would be unfortunate to build a garage that might be obsolete in five years.
Councilwoman Hauck commented that she is not always eager to spend money on studies unless they are to be used, but she thinks this is something worthwhile that will augment the work done by the Village Engineering Department. The Village has never undertaken something of this scope before, and it requires a massive investment. Councilwoman Hauck was especially interested in the fact that, according to the proposal, Walker Parking Consultants will review available traffic studies or studies of projected peak hour traffic volumes. She recalled that the County did a traffic study, and she hoped it could be used in this process. Mr. Rutishauser stated that he forwarded to Mr. Walker the 2002 Rich Associates study, which was a very comprehensive study. It assessed the parking deficit in Ridgewood, and had some recommendations in it. Mr. Rutishauser added that another important point in the Walker study, in his opinion, is that it is an independent validation of the methodology. This may also assist the Village when it is time to bond funds to show any prospective purchaser of Village notes that Ridgewood has done its due diligence, and is not just choosing one idea over the other for the sake of making a choice. It remains to be seen whether the study will support a traditional or automated parking garage.
Ms. Sonenfeld added that when one considers the amount of money that will be invested in the parking garage, $7,500 spent on giving the Councilmembers confidence in making their decision is a small amount when compared to the millions of dollars that will be spent.
Councilman Sedon noted that with all of the activity associated with the high-density housing issue at the Planning Board, he thought there might have been traffic studies done in that area by the current applicants. Mr. Rutishauser responded that they are not exactly traffic “studies,” because all of the applicants before the Planning Board are asking for a zoning change. None of those hearings require the same amount of detail as a site plan hearing. A more detailed traffic study would certainly be warranted, demanded, and produced once a site plan is presented to the Planning Board. The information gathered was rather vague, and represents an initial assessment of what the traffic impact might be. Mr. Rutishauser’s data that he could go through the files and provide whatever information he has on the traffic situation in that area. Mayor Aronsohn suggested that it should all be put on the Village website. Councilman Sedon agreed it is important to have every little bit of information that is available in order to make a final decision.
Mayor Aronsohn reiterated that hopefully, the information will be available by the end of June, which will allow the Councilmembers to make an informed decision about which type of parking garage should be built. Councilman Pucciarelli pointed out that the decision will affect the capacity of the garage, which in turn affects the economics of the situation. It also affects the architectural design of the garage.
4. MOTION TO SUSPEND WORK SESSION AND CONVENE SPECIAL PUBLIC MEETING
At 7:58 P.M., upon a motion by Councilman Sedon, seconded by Councilwoman Knudsen, and carried by unanimous voice vote, the Village Council suspended the Work Session.
5. MOTION TO RECONVENE WORK SESSION
At 8:55 P.M., upon a motion by Councilman Pucciarelli, seconded by Councilman Sedon, and carried by unanimous voice vote, the Village Council reconvened its Work Session. At roll call, the following were present: Councilmembers Hauck, Knudsen, Pucciarelli, Sedon, and Mayor Aronsohn. Also present were Roberta Sonenfeld, Village Manager; Donna Jackson, Deputy Village Clerk; and Matthew Rogers, Village Attorney.
6. DISCUSSION (continued)
a. Parking:
2.) Establish Valet Parking Loading/Unloading Zones – Chestnut Street and Prospect Street
Ms. Sonenfeld explained that this is a continuation of the valet parking ordinance, and creates three additional loading zones to be used for valet parking on Chestnut Street and Prospect Street. The valet will have the same hours of use as in the other previously created loading/unloading zones, from 5:00 P.M.-2:00 A.M. This ordinance allows 11 parking spots to be used as valet spots to load and unload cars. Ms. Sonenfeld noted that on Friday and Saturday nights, there are approximately 80-110 cars that are parked off-site for the two restaurants that have valet parking. The three restaurants that are currently requesting valet parking estimate approximately 200 cars will be parked. Councilman Pucciarelli commented that the number of restaurants offering valet for parking seems to be increasing. Sonenfeld agreed, saying that it seems that the business owners view valet parking as a competitive advantage.
Councilwoman Knudsen asked if there had been any negative feedback associated with using that parking space for loading and unloading. Ms. Sonenfeld answered that there have been several complaints from people walking on the streets asking what happened to their parking spots, and another complaint that the valet parking employees were not using the designated spots for parking cars, but were parking them in spots intended for public use. That issue was handled, and resulted in a change of valet parking employees.
Councilman Sedon commented that there have been some minor issues to deal with, but overall, the valet parking program seems to be working out well. It helps to alleviate some of the parking problems, especially on Friday and Saturday nights.
Mayor Aronsohn agreed that it has been a bonus for the Village, and it is also mitigated problems with the traffic flow in the CBD.
This item will be put on the agenda for the June 10, 2015 Public Meeting.
3.) Removed from Agenda
4.) Bond Ordinance – Pre-Construction Funding for Hudson Street Garage
Ms. Sonenfeld commented that this was something which Councilwoman Knudsen mentioned earlier. It is a bond ordinance for an additional $500,000 for pre-construction funding on the parking lot at Hudson Street. It is hoped that this will get the Village through the design phase of the parking garage, up to the point where construction bids are solicited. This is in addition to the $100,000 already bonded for this purpose. Mayor Aronsohn asked when this ordinance would be introduced, and Ms. Sonenfeld responded that it could be introduced at the Public Meeting on June 10, 2015.
5.) U-Turn Prohibitions Ordinance
Ms. Sonenfeld noted that this is an ordinance that establishes a prohibition on making a U-turn on Chestnut Street between Franklin Avenue and East Ridgewood Avenue. It gives the Ridgewood Police Department an enforcement tool. This is the street where all of the valet parking occurs. Councilman Pucciarelli asked if this prohibits making U-turns on Chestnut Street in order to park in one of the angled spaces on the opposite side, and Ms. Sonenfeld confirmed that it does. This item will be put on the agenda for the June 10, 2015 Public Meeting.
6.) Angled Parking Ordinance
Ms. Sonenfeld commented that Police Officer Youngberg worked with Mr. Rutishauser on this ordinance. It clarifies how people can park at an angle, as well as parallel park, in the Village. This item will be put on the agenda for the June 10, 2015 Public Meeting.
7.) Taxi Stands & Bus Stops Ordinance
As with the previous item, Ms. Sonenfeld stated that this clarifies the language governing use of the taxi stand, as well as bus stops. This item will be put on the agenda for the June 10, 2015 Public Meeting.
b. Budget:
1.) Purchase of Skatewave Equipment
Ms. Sonenfeld explained that this will authorize an interlocal agreement to purchase Skatewave equipment from the Borough of Fair Lawn. This is an opportunity for the Village to upgrade the skateboarding area with newer equipment at a very low cost. The discount is approximately 75%. It has been reviewed by the Joint Insurance Fund (JIF), and they have approved it. The Village is contributing $5,000 toward this purchase, and $2,500 in additional funds has been raised through fundraising efforts. Councilwoman Knudsen commented that she thinks it is great to purchase these items for those who love skateboarding. This item will be put on the agenda for the June 10, 2015 Public Meeting.
2.) Award Contract – Landscaping Services – Ridgewood Water
Ms. Sonenfeld noted that this is the second year of a two-year contract for landscaping services for Ridgewood Water. This item will be put on the agenda for the June 10, 2015 Public Meeting.
3.) Award Contract Under State Contract – Mobile Camera System for Police Cars
Ms. Sonenfeld explained that this will award a contract for additional car cameras in the police cars, and will cover three cars. Every police vehicle that is involved in motor vehicle traffic stops is required by law to have cameras. Councilman Sedon asked if all of the police cars will be equipped with cameras after this purchase. Ms. Sonenfeld answered that these purchases are being done on a piecemeal basis, as the cars come in. The Village is in the process of purchasing suitable vehicles, and they will be equipped with cameras. By the time this process is finished, every vehicle that is required to have a camera will have one. Sergeant Brian Pullman mentioned that any cars that are primarily used for traffic enforcement and control have video cameras in them. The Village switched to a new system two years ago, and the 12 cameras that are currently in vehicles are operating on that system. There are still three cameras that are running on the old system, but as new cars are purchased, they will be equipped with video cameras on the new system. Ms. Sonenfeld added that it is important to note that the new system being used is compatible with the system used by the body cameras. Although the Village is not purchasing body cameras at this time, it is a consideration for the future. This will be put on the agenda for the June 10, 2015 Public Meeting.
c. Operations:
1.) Declare Property Surplus – Desks and Chairs
Ms. Sonenfeld commented that this will simply declare some furniture in the Building Department as surplus property. As part of the rejuvenation of the Building Department, desks and chairs are being changed. This resolution will be put on the agenda for the June 10, 2015 Public Meeting.
7. MANAGER REPORT
Ms. Sonenfeld started her report by announcing the retirement of Frank Moritz, Director of Ridgewood Water, at the end of June. An invitation to a party in his honor at The Brownstone on July 16, 2015, is being circulated. The semiannual employee appreciation pizza party on Friday, June 26th, will also be an opportunity for staff to congratulate Mr. Moritz and thanked him for his many years of service. A replacement has been hired named Richard Calbi, who is currently the Livingston Township department head and engineer, responsible for their water utility, their Division of Public Works, their Engineering Department, and wastewater treatment plant. Mr. Calbi has his New Jersey Professional Engineering license, his New Jersey Professional Planner license, his Certified Municipal Engineer license, and holds a New Jersey Certified Public Works Manager license. Mr. Calbi also has a BS and an MS from the New Jersey Institute of Technology and Engineering. He resides in Glen Rock. The official start date for Mr. Calbi is June 22, 2015, although he will be visiting Ridgewood for 4-5 days (taking his own vacation time) to work with Mr. Moritz.
Brendan Corcoran of Ridgewood broke the Guinness world record for running the fastest mile. Mr. Corcoran was running for two causes, the Code 3 Cure Foundation, which helps firefighters who are battling cancer; and raising awareness of pet fire safety. Approximately 500,000 pets are affected by fire every year, and approximately 40,000 of them perish.
Parkmobile is being used by Ridgewood residents. It has been implemented in all of the parking lots. It is hoped that it will be implemented at all of the parking meters for street parking locations by the end of June. As an example, Ms. Sonenfeld stated that on Friday, 125 transactions occurred, and approximately 130 on Saturday. Representatives from Parkmobile say that those numbers are very good. In addition, Ms. Sonenfeld, Mr. Rutishauser, and Mr. Rooney will be meeting with the people who are to do the environmental study on June 3rd to go over phase 1 of the studies on the Hudson Street garage.
Regarding the North Walnut Street Redevelopment Zone, Ms. Sonenfeld stated that a check for $10,000 was received from Kensington, and the contract has been implemented with NW, and the financial analysis of the Kensington proposal will be starting shortly. Councilwoman Knudsen asked for confirmation that the only company under consideration at this time is Kensington. Ms. Sonenfeld stated that she still has the old proposals, and they are all still somewhat viable, but the only entity the Village is working with at this time is Kensington. Mayor Aronsohn asked when the analysis is expected, and Ms. Sonenfeld responded that she was hoping for June 30th, but the contract will extend if they need several more weeks. Ms. Sonenfeld mentioned that approximately 341 Ridgewood Parking Permits (RPPs) have now been sold. Approximately 78 employee monthly parking permits were sold in the month of May. Moreover, seven new parking spaces were painted at Hawes School. In addition to the Steering Committee on Parking, Ms. Sonenfeld has added a volunteer summer intern to work with Mr. Rooney on parking for at least 4-5 weeks for free.
Ms. Sonenfeld mentioned that birth certificates are now available on-line. Valley Hospital enters the birth information electronically, and it is reviewed electronically by Village staff, eliminating the need for courier delivery and paper; no paper copies are required to stay on file in the Village. There have been some technology glitches, but they are being addressed as they occur.
Moving on to water restrictions, Ms. Sonenfeld stated that the June 1st water restrictions were announced. Some residents have asked why water restrictions are in place, and Ms. Sonenfeld explained that the Village is restricted by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) as to how much water can be pumped out of the system. In addition, the Village is required by the NJDEP to have a water conservation plan. The biggest water use in the Village is for landscape and lawn irrigation. There are storage tanks in Ridgewood, but that causes excess demand, and depleting those reserves can compromise the ability to fight fires. Therefore, the greatest opportunity available for conservation is to place restrictions on irrigation. Odd-numbered addresses can water lawns on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday; even-numbered addresses can water their lawns on Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday. People who wish to water their lawns using hand-held hoses can do so at any time. The Village is in stage 4 of the water restrictions.
In her “Response to Residents” section, Ms. Sonenfeld mentioned that most of her responses involved coyotes and bears in the past couple of weeks. Two email blasts went out to advise residents of sightings of coyotes and bears, and the recommended behavior. A resident asked why Ridgewood Veterinary Hospital was not used for the dog rabies clinic, and the answer is that this year’s clinic was sponsored by a veterinarian who is highly regarded by many Ridgewood residents. The veterinarian donated her time and supplies to run the clinic. Last year, when Ridgewood Veterinary Hospital was used, the cost was $125 per hour for the veterinarian’s services, and there were no free supplies. Moreover, the veterinarian who attended the clinic is no longer practicing. Approximately 118 vaccinations were given on that day, and implanted 24 microchips.
The recent “Meet the Manager” event was held last week, on Saturday. Ms. Sonenfeld had four visitors. One of the visitors discussed a parking issue. Another had an issue with some bushes at a street corner that are impeding the line of sight for vehicular traffic, as well as pedestrians. Ms. Sonenfeld and Mr. Rutishauser go out regularly to inspect problem areas in the Village, and they will be investigating that particular one.
Upcoming events include the Ridgewood Guild’s sponsorship of free music from now until Labor Day, in which volunteer musicians play from 7:00 P.M.-9:00 P.M. at the Kasschau band shell. It will be every Tuesday and Thursday night, starting on June 4th and running through August 6th. Graydon Pool opens for the season on June 6th from 10:00 A.M.-7:30 P.M. On June 6th, there will also be the “Best Day Ever”. The proceeds from that will benefit many charities associated with Michael Feeney. Registration is now open on Community Pass for that event.
Councilwoman Knudsen stated that she thought she saw a coyote in her yard the other day, which was looking straight at her. However, her husband told her that it was a red fox, not a coyote, although Councilwoman Knudsen still believes it was a coyote.
8. COUNCIL REPORTS
Councilwoman Knudsen said she had the opportunity to attend the Ridgewood Girl Scouts Gold/Silver/Bronze ceremony at the Upper Ridgewood Community Church on May 17th. Mayor Aronsohn presented certificates to the two Gold Award recipients, Grace Harris and Bridget Miniter. Grace and Bridget are juniors at Ridgewood High School, and Councilwoman Knudsen commended them for their hard work and dedication. She congratulated all of the Girl Scouts who received awards that day.
Planning Board – Councilwoman Knudsen stated that the Planning Board met on May 19th and heard the application for the World Mission Society Church of God, approving the preliminary and final site plan application. The applicant made all modifications at the Godwin Avenue location as requested by the Planning Board, and also addressed the neighbors’ concerns. In addition, the Planning Board continued work on the Master Plan re-examination, which is a long process. The Planning Board will meet again on Tuesday, June 2nd, at 7:30 P.M., in Village Hall, continuing the public hearing on the land-use element of the Master Plan AH2, B3R, CR, and C-zone districts.
Councilwoman Knudsen reminded everyone that June 2nd is also Primary Election Day, and everyone should get out and vote.
Fourth of July Committee – Councilwoman Knudsen mentioned that the Fourth of July Committee will meet at the firehouse on Monday, June 8th at 7:30 P.M. The committee is still in need of parade marshals, and Councilwoman Knudsen asked for volunteers to serve in that capacity. For more information, the website is www.ridgewood july4th org.
Historic Preservation Commission – Councilwoman Knudsen stated that the Historic Preservation Commission will meet on Thursday, June 11th, at 8:00 P.M., in the Garden Room.
Councilwoman Knudsen commented that the Memorial Day ceremony held this past Monday was beautiful, and as always, it was a reminder of the great sacrifices made by American men and women in uniform. Councilwoman Knudsen attended the ceremony at Valleau Cemetery honoring Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Charles Ernest Hosking, Jr., who died on March 21, 1967, in Vietnam during a heroic act of saving other members of his group from death or serious injury. Councilwoman Knudsen appreciated the opportunity to be there, and thanked all involved, especially Robert Paley, Commander of the American Legion Post #53.
Councilman Pucciarelli continued where Councilwoman Knudsen left off, saying that all of the Councilmembers attended the Memorial Day service, which is always very moving and inspiring. There are so many individual stories of heroic acts performed by American men and women in uniform, and each story is fascinating.
Ridgewood Arts Council – Councilman Pucciarelli mentioned that the Ridgewood Arts Council met last night, and they are now linked on the Village website under the heading “Boards and Committees”. Their website is rac@ridgewoodnj.net. Art is now being collected, and there are some very generous donors from the Ridgewood Art Institute, the hobbyists and Ridgewood High School; and other individuals who have come forward to donate works of art. The artworks will be stored in the firehouse, thanks to the efforts of Ms. Sonenfeld. The art will eventually be displayed at Village Hall.
Nominees for trustees of the Ridgewood Arts Foundation have been finalized, and formal invitations will be extended to those nominees.
Ridgewood Public Library Trustees – Councilman Pucciarelli stated that the Public Library Trustees will meet tomorrow evening. He always looks forward to those meetings, and Councilman Pucciarelli noted that the brochure with the latest offerings from the Ridgewood Public Library came out today. The number of offerings is steadily increasing, and it is varied and illustrative of what a cultural center the Public Library is.
Ridgewood Board of Education – Councilman Pucciarelli attends the Board of Education meeting, with Mayor Aronsohn and Ms. Sonenfeld, on a monthly basis.
Parks, Recreation, and Conservation (PRC) Board – Councilwoman Hauck commented that the Parks, Recreation, and Conservation (PRC) Board met last night at Habernickel Horse Farm. After discussing items on the agenda, it was decided that on June 21st, the next meeting will be held at Gypsy Pond, and they hope to hold their September meeting at Schedler Park. The members have decided that whenever the weather permits, they will hold their meetings outside, rotating through all of the Village parks. Their discussions focused on grievance policies and field use policies in the Village, including the topic of conflict resolution methods and policing organizations that use Village parks and fields, which must be held accountable for their own laws and bylaws. They also discussed the Stable renovation, which is due to be completed on June 1st. There is some landscaping left to do, after which time the temporary Certificate of Occupancy can be obtained. The renovation is proceeding on schedule. In addition, the renovation that will provide six or eight more bathrooms for the summer camp participants at Graydon Pool will be completed on time. The ribbon-cutting will be held during the third week of June.
The PRC Board is also planning to hold a story walk at Graydon Pool, combining reading with the outdoors. Posters have been put up in various locations, and each poster tells another part of the story. This experience for families and children is sponsored by the Curious Reader, and Mail and More.
Moving on to the “Come Alive Outside” event, Councilwoman Hauck announced that the third annual duck derby will be held on Saturday, July 11th, and the rain date is Sunday, July 12th, from 12:30 P.M.-4:30 P.M. Approximately 600 people participated in the event last year, and the number is expected to increase this year. However, registration will be capped at 600. The price is $10 per person, or $15 for those who do not pre-register. The registration fee includes the participant’s ducks, decorations, and lunch (sponsored by the concession stand at Graydon Pool). There will also be watermelon races held in the shallow end.
Community Center – Councilwoman Hauck mentioned that the Community Center Committee met last Thursday and they reviewed their subcommittee reports. They are now a tax-exempt foundation. The members discussed facilities and the two summer programs, which will be to put some soundproofing tiles on the ceiling to reduce the echoes in that room, as well as trying to obtain comfortable chairs. A subcommittee is working on a Senior Needs Assessment Survey, and the members are discussing the best ways to reach Village residents. The technology subcommittee is in the process of creating the website, but the committee already has a Facebook page. They are also recruiting volunteers to help with everything in the Village, for anything that has to do with the community. Councilwoman Hauck asked anyone who is interested in working close to the government to volunteer.
Civility Roundtable – Councilwoman Hauck mentioned that the next Civility Roundtable will be held on Monday, June 1st, in the Senior Lounge at 7:30 P.M., specifically addressing how civility issues always seem to arise when sports are involved.
Councilman Sedon began his report by thanking all of the departments who are involved in the “Touch a Truck” event held last Tuesday. Councilman Sedon’s own son was fascinated by all the trucks, and it seemed like everyone had a good time.
Citizens Safety Advisory Committee (CSAC) – Councilman Sedon commented that the Citizens Safety Advisory Committee met on May 22nd, and they discussed several issues. In he is working with one of the members of the CSAC to determine who they might want to involve in taking a comprehensive look at the Ridge School area to discuss mitigation of the challenges in that area. The committee also made a few recommendations as an advisory group. One of those recommendations is to fast-track adding some parking spaces on Franklin Avenue for traffic calming purposes. The committee members believe that if lines are painted and cars are parked there, people will slow down when driving through that area. Another suggestion was that a walker-friendly questionnaire be prepared in order to determine what Ridgewood has to do to qualify as a walker-friendly community. The members of the CSAC said they would be happy to assist the Village in any way to achieve that goal.
Some other recommendations have to do with Corella Court. One of the recommendations is that the curb on Stevens Avenue going north from Corella Court should be painted yellow to discourage people who parked too close to the corner there. Another recommendation is to delay implementing the parking restrictions on Corella Court until the effects of the additional parking spaces at the school can be seen.
Open Space Committee – Councilman Sedon mentioned that the grant for which the Open Space Committee made an application was rejected. However, there are other grant applications available, including one conducting a survey to update the open space plan. Because the committee was working on that previously, they do not have to start all over again from the beginning, but they will put the survey together working on getting out to as many residents as possible. The committee was also very interested in helping with the diversion issue, which is one of the many things on the Village Engineer’s list to be done. Because the committee deals with open space, they have an inventory of open space, as well as potential properties, and they could help the Village Engineer with that issue.
Ridgewood Green Team – Councilman Sedon noted that the Green Team met last night in Village Hall, and they are on schedule to meet the June 7th deadline. Right now, they have approximately 225 points worth of actions uploaded and completed to the Sustainable Jersey website. Bronze certification requires 150 points; and silver certification requires 350 points. Obtaining more points opens the Village up to more grant opportunities, but the important thing is to get registered to be made available to the various grants focused on green initiatives. The June 7th deadline is the deadline to submit, after which there is a review process, and if any questions need to be answered, or additional information is required, that will be communicated to the Green Team from June 7th and September. The final cut-off will be made in November. Councilman Sedon believes that the Village will easily achieve bronze certification.
Mayor Aronsohn stated that will with respect to CSAC issues, the Parking Committee discussed the intersection of Franklin Avenue and Maple Avenue, which has been greatly improved. Mr. Rutishauser worked on the timing of the light at that corner, which has helped a great deal. However, Mayor Aronsohn noted that when trying to make a right turn into the Village parking lot, many drivers try to drive through the empty parking spaces along North Maple Avenue, nearly causing accidents. Mayor Aronsohn is not sure how to go about controlling that situation, but he has seen it happen very often.
Regarding Parkmobile, Mayor Aronsohn mentioned that he downloaded the app, and he thinks it is fantastic. He found it very convenient and easy-to-use, and it was very helpful with reminders.
With respect to Memorial Day, Mayor Aronsohn reiterated that it was a wonderful service. He and Councilwoman Hauck spoke afterward, and they came up with an idea about trying to get a tent to use for the ceremony every year, due to the fact that the temperature is usually very high. There are many senior citizens who attend the ceremony, and the high temperatures can be detrimental to their health.
Among the many wonderful activities that were happening throughout Ridgewood on Memorial Day, Mayor Aronsohn mentioned the bone marrow drive sponsored by the family of Anthony Daniels. Approximately 225 people registered as potential donors.
The Ridgewood Access Committee met last Thursday, where they had a discussion about transitioning, and children who age out of the system at 21. It is a challenge faced by many families in and out of Ridgewood, because many services are cut off at 21. That is something that the Access Committee would like to address, because it affects so many.
Mayor Aronsohn mentioned Ed Schwartz, who has been battling leukemia for the last year and a half, and appears to be in his final days. He, his wife, Julie, and son, Kyle, flew to Hawaii to spend the remainder of his life so that he could see one last sunset in Hawaii. Mayor Aronsohn encouraged anyone who wanted to leave a message to visit his Facebook page, as well as other social media, and leave comments, which the family would appreciate.
9. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
Mayor Aronsohn stated that they would again have comments from the public and asked anyone wishing to address the Village Council to come forward.
Leonard Eisen, 762 Upper Boulevard, stated that the presentation on the budget gave a lot of detail, and was very well done. Mr. Eisen wondered if it would be possible to see the budget presented by the Bergen County Board of Chosen Freeholders and if any representative from Ridgewood attended the County budget presentation. Mr. Eisen said he has no idea what the County does with his tax dollars. He asked if anyone represents the Village at the County budget hearing, and Mayor Aronsohn answered that there is no specific representative from Ridgewood. Mr. Eisen asked if it would be possible in the future for Village residents to get the breakdown of the County budget, and if it could be as detailed as the one provided by Ms. Sonenfeld tonight. Mayor Aronsohn commented that Mr. Eisen raised an excellent point, and it would be terrific if a copy of the County budget to be put on the Village website.
Boyd Loving, 342 South Irving Street, agreed with Councilman Sedon’s comments about the “Touch a Truck” event, saying that it was a fabulous day. He noticed that many Village employees were also enjoying themselves, which is a good thing.
Mr. Loving said he had a couple of questions about parking, because there was a lot of discussion about parking tonight. With respect to the new valet zones that are being created, Mr. Loving asked if there is any expense borne by the person who wants the valet zone created. The reason for his question is due to the fact that valet parking begins at 5:00 P.M., and the parking meters operate until 6:00 P.M. Mr. Loving wondered how the revenue that was being lost during that one-hour time period was being compensated to the Village. Mr. Loving’s next question had to do with the U-turn prohibition, and if it is only prohibited on Chestnut Street, because the same problem exists on Oak Street, Walnut Street, and Cottage Place. He asked if this was strictly a local ordinance, or if the State ordinance regarding U-turns was being implemented. Mr. Loving mentioned that there is an ordinance in Glen Rock that prohibits making U-turns into parking spaces on Rock Road, which is a local ordinance, meaning that the Borough of Glen Rock keeps most of the money when summonses are issued, as opposed to being required to forward the fines paid to the State if the State ordinance is implemented. The last question on parking was whether the councilmembers had officially voted on whether a parking garage would be built on Hudson Street. Mr. Loving is concerned because approximately $99,300 is already encumbered for the parking garage, and another $500,000 is being requested. Moreover, Ms. Sonenfeld mentioned that the parking garage could cost as much as $10 million. Mr. Loving is concerned because $10 million is a lot of money, and he wondered who would actually be spending the money: the Ridgewood taxpayers, or if the Bergen County Improvement Authority (BCIA) would be joining this effort, as had been previously discussed. Loving also wondered if New Jersey Transit (NJT) would be asked to contribute due to the fact that the proposed parking garage is close to the train station. He also suggested that the many developers who want to build various structures around Ridgewood might be persuaded to help pay for the parking garage.
Ms. Sonenfeld responded that there are two fees associated with valet parking. There is a $250 application fee for any business that wants to implement valet parking to cover reviewing the materials, which includes a map, information about the route to be followed and the parking lot to be used, the contracts with the valet parking service, as well as various other documents. Once the application is approved, there is a $1,000 annual permit fee.
Regarding the U-turn prohibition, Ms. Sonenfeld commented that the only prohibition at this time is on Chestnut Street. The reason why the other streets were not considered is because the Parking Committee was only considering the street where valet parking has been implemented due to concerns about that kind of movement on that street with all the other activity going on at the same time. Ms. Sonenfeld added that it is a local ordinance that is being implemented.
With respect to the parking garage and its costs, Ms. Sonenfeld noted that she mentioned $10 million off the top of her head, based on the cost of $22,000 per parking spot, depending upon the number of spaces that are eventually installed. There is no firm number with respect to the cost at this time, and Ms. Sonenfeld said she did not mean to imply that $10 million was a firm number.
Mayor Aronsohn pointed out that the Councilmembers are not taking one vote with respect to whether a garage should be built, but they are taking very deliberate steps, with a vote at each step of the way. As far as BCIA is concerned, the negotiations are on-going. James Tedesco, Bergen County Executive, has been very supportive of moving forward with plans for the parking garage in some fashion. Information has been conveyed to the BCIA on more than one occasion that Ridgewood is moving forward, and that their support is welcome at any time. Mayor Aronsohn met with representatives from NJT last year, but they were not interested at that time. They explained that in the past, they had been interested, and offered to help fund a garage with previous Village Councils, but they do not have the funds at this time. Mayor Aronsohn added that the Village will continue to look for different sources of funding as the parking garage plan progresses. Mr. Loving noted that Mayor Aronsohn was on some of the previous Village Councils he referred to, and Mr. Loving thought that the concerns expressed by the previous Councilmembers was that they thought they would lose control if NJT had any stake in the parking garage. They were also concerned about the number of people from out of town who would be coming to Ridgewood and clogging the streets. Mr. Loving asked if the current Councilmembers could, at some point, discuss how they would feel if NJT were to come forward and offer substantial funds for the parking garage, and if the Councilmembers would be willing to accept those funds, based on prior events. Mayor Aronsohn noted that the prior discussions with NJT predated his tenure as a Councilmember, but he said he is open to discussing the situation with them. Mr. Loving noted that his concerns stem from the fact that he is a Ridgewood taxpayer, and how large a burden that would be on him and others. Mayor Aronsohn pointed out that the Parking Utility is also a part of the funding plan, so all of the funds would not come from the Village’s capital budget. Ms. Sonenfeld added that the Village should be able to build garage that pays for itself, and that should be the goal. He added that the Village is not at the point where financing and costs should be discussed, because the decision has not yet been made.
Finally, Mr. Loving asked Mr. Rogers if the $500,000 bond ordinance requires a supermajority of the Village Council, which Mr. Rogers confirmed.
There were no other comments from the public at this time, and Mayor Aronsohn closed the time for public comments.
10. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the Village Council, on a motion by Councilwoman Knudsen’s, seconded by Councilman Pucciarelli, and carried unanimously by voice vote, the meeting was adjourned at 9:40 P.M.
PAUL S. ARONSOHN, Mayor
DONNA M. JACKSON, Deputy Village Clerk
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