Village Council Special Public Meeting Minutes 20150325

A SPECIAL PUBLIC MEETING 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, MARCH 25, 2015 AT 7:30 P.M.

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

Mayor Aronsohn called the meeting to order at 9:16 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; Heather Mailander, Village Clerk; and Matthew Rogers, Village Attorney.

2.         ORDINANCES

a.         Public Hearing – #3466 – Amend Chapter 265 – Vehicles and Traffic – Parking Meters, Time Limit Parking, One-Day Resident Commuter Parking Pass and Additional Miscellaneous Amendments for Cottage Place Parking Lot

Mayor Aronsohn moved the second reading of Ordinance 3466 and that the Public Hearing be opened. Councilman Pucciarelli seconded the motion.

Roll Call Vote

AYES:             Councilmembers Hauck, Knudsen, Pucciarelli, Sedon, and Mayor Aronsohn

NAYS:None

ABSENT:        None

ABSTAIN:       None

The Village Clerk read Ordinance 3466 by title:

AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTER 265 OF THE CODE OF THE VILLAGE OF RIDGEWOOD, VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC, AT SECTION 265-29, “PARKING METER ZONE DESIGNATED,” AND SECTION 265-33, “PERMIT PARKING”

Mayor Aronsohn announced that the Public Hearing was open.

Boyd Loving, 342 South Irving Street, stated that he had made this request before, which is when there is a Public Hearing, it would be helpful if the Village Manager or her designee would give a short summary of what the Public Hearing is about. This particular ordinance contains so much information, and Mr. Loving asked if Ms. Sonenfeld could explain it.

Ms. Sonenfeld answered that the ordinance supports the option that was presented several weeks ago to change the Cottage Place parking lot to an eight-hour lot, and allows a daily parking pass to be used there. In conjunction with that, and the reason for having two Ordinances on the agenda, is due to the fact that recently, fees have been put in a separate ordinance. Therefore, the second ordinance will set the fees at $.75 per hour and it will also set the vendor fee at $.35 per transaction. It also adds the one-day Ridgewood resident commuter pass fee of $7.

There were no other comments from the public, and Mayor Aronsohn moved that the Public Hearing be closed. Councilman Pucciarelli seconded the motion.

Roll Call Vote

AYES:             Councilmembers Hauck, Knudsen, Pucciarelli, Sedon, and Mayor Aronsohn

NAYS:None

ABSENT:        None

ABSTAIN:       None

Councilwoman Hauck moved that Ordinance 3466 be adopted on second reading and final publication as required by law. Councilman Pucciarelli seconded the motion.

Roll Call Vote

AYES:             Councilmembers Hauck, Knudsen, Pucciarelli, and Mayor Aronsohn

NAYS:Councilmembers Knudsen and Sedon

ABSENT:        None

ABSTAIN:       None

b.         Public Hearing – #3467 – Amend Chapter 145 – Fees – Parking Meter Fees for Cottage Place Parking Lot and Fee for One-Day Resident Commuter Parking Permit

Mayor Aronsohn moved the second reading of Ordinance 3467 and that the Public Hearing be opened. Councilman Pucciarelli seconded the motion.

Roll Call Vote

AYES:             Councilmembers Hauck, Knudsen, Pucciarelli, Sedon, and Mayor Aronsohn

NAYS:None

ABSENT:        None

ABSTAIN:       None

The Village Clerk read Ordinance 3467 by title:

AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTER 145 OF THE CODE OF THE VILLAGE OF RIDGEWOOD, FEES, AT SECTION 145-6, “ENUMERATION OF FEES RELATING TO CODE CHAPTERS”

Mayor Aronsohn announced that the Public Hearing was open.

Boyd Loving, 342 South Irving Street, asked if the transaction fee for Parkmobile was included in this ordinance, and if so, does it specify that the fee is not to exceed $.35 per transaction. Ms. Sonenfeld responded that it does include the transaction fee, and the fee is specified at $.35 per transaction, with no “not to exceed” language. Mr. Loving reminded the Councilmembers of his previous comments regarding the discount offered by Parkmobile, and his concern that if the transaction fee is set at $.35 per transaction, Parkmobile might be prevented from offering a discount in Ridgewood. Mr. Loving suggested that the words “not to exceed” be inserted before the $.35 transaction fee. Ms. Sonenfeld noted that after speaking extensively with Parkmobile, they stated that this language change would not be necessary, but that it could be done to allay any concerns. Mr. Rogers noted that it would not be a substantive change, so the ordinance could be amended as recommended. Councilman Pucciarelli agreed that the change should be made.

Councilwoman Knudsen asked if there is a minimum transaction fee required by Parkmobile, such as requiring that the transaction be a minimum of $1. Ms. Sonenfeld responded that there is no such requirement.

There were no other comments from the public, and Mayor Aronsohn moved that the Public Hearing be closed. Councilman Pucciarelli seconded the motion.

Roll Call Vote

AYES:             Councilmembers Hauck, Knudsen, Pucciarelli, Sedon, and Mayor Aronsohn

NAYS:None

ABSENT:        None

ABSTAIN:       None

Councilman Pucciarelli moved to amend Ordinance 3467 to insert the words “not to exceed” before any reference to $.35 in the proposed ordinance. Councilwoman Hauck seconded the motion.

Roll Call Vote

AYES:             Councilmembers Hauck, Knudsen, Pucciarelli, Sedon, and Mayor Aronsohn

NAYS:None

ABSENT:        None

ABSTAIN:       None

Councilwoman Hauck moved that Ordinance 3467, as amended, be adopted on second reading and final publication as required by law. Councilman Pucciarelli seconded the motion.

Roll Call Vote

AYES:             Councilmembers Hauck, Knudsen, Pucciarelli, and Mayor Aronsohn

NAYS:Councilmembers Knudsen and Sedon

ABSENT:        None

ABSTAIN:       None

3.        RESOLUTION

THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION, NUMBERED 15-92, WAS ADOPTED BY A CONSENT AGENDA, WITH ONE VOTE BY THE VILLAGE COUNCIL, AND WAS READ BY TITLE ONLY:

4.         ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business to come before the Village Council, on a motion by Councilman Pucciarelli, seconded by Councilman Sedon, and carried by unanimous voice vote, the Special Public Meeting was adjourned at 9:23 P.M.

                                                                                                _____________________________

                                                                                                          Paul S. Aronsohn

                                                                                                                  Mayor

_________________________________

            Heather A. Mailander

               Village Clerk