Village Council Public Work Session Meeting Minutes 20150325
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, MARCH 25, 2015, AT 7:30 P.M.
1. CALL TO ORDER – OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT – ROLL CALL – FLAG SALUTE – MOMENT OF SILENCE
Deputy Mayor Pucciarelli called the meeting to order at 7:30 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, and Sedon. Also present were Roberta Sonenfeld, Village Manager; Heather Mailander, Village Clerk; and Matthew Rogers, Village Attorney. Mayor Aronsohn arrived at 7:42 P.M.
Junior Girl Scout Troop 94192 of Willard School led those in attendance in the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag, and Deputy Mayor Pucciarelli 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
Deputy Mayor Pucciarelli asked if anyone from the public wished to speak regarding any of the agenda items.
Justin Watrel, of Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey, said he runs the Post-Stroke and Disabled Support Group in Ridgewood. Mr. Watrel wanted to announce some of the programming that would be starting next month for his group. On April 7th, Loving Hands will be coming to deal with caregiving and caregiver support with senior citizens. There will also be a presentation on April 14th through the American Historical Theater, which is a first-person interpretation of Franklin Delano Roosevelt. That is open to everyone, and will be done in coordination with the Bergen County Historical Society. The Americans with Disabilities Act Association will also be giving a presentation on Americans with disabilities, and the problems associated with disabilities. On April 28th, in coordination with the Bergen County Zoo Trails Group, a wild animal presentation will be hosted. An elder care lawyer will be coming in for a presentation during the first week of May. All of these programs are open to all senior citizens, not just those with disabilities. All of these programs are sponsored through Bergen County in coordination with the Village Council. Mr. Watrel thanked the Councilmembers for supporting these programs. He also mentioned the Swim Incorporated program at the Ridgewood YMCA, which is held on Tuesdays from 2:30 P.M.-3:30 P.M. This is a very important program for people with disabilities, because it is a free program that promotes activity for people with multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, stroke victims, and cancer patients. The activities are arranged through Swim Incorporated, which is located in Bedminster, New Jersey, and are held in coordination with the Ridgewood YMCA. Mr. Watrel mentioned that the Ridgewood YMCA has been very supportive of this program, which is open to anyone ages 30+. It gives people a chance to have their independence. Mr. Watrel has seen a lot of changes in people who have gone through the program. Mr. Watrel also thanked all of the councilmembers, as well as the residents of Ridgewood, for supporting programming for senior citizens. That support has made a difference to many senior citizens in northern Bergen County. Deputy Mayor Pucciarelli thanked Mr. Watrel for his comments, and asked him to give the URL of the website for details on the various programs. Mr. Watrel said there is no website for the program, so he came to the meeting to discuss the schedule for the next five weeks. If there any questions about any of these programs, Mr. Watrel stated that the group meets every Tuesday in the fourth floor conference room at Village Hall from 10:00 A.M.-12:00 noon. The program is a County program that is open to anyone, but in this part of Bergen County, it is mostly attended by people from the Paramus-Ridgewood area. There are other programs in Maywood, East Rutherford, and Englewood.
Councilwoman Hauck commented that she happened to stumble into a few of the meetings by accident, and she wishes that more people knew of these programs, or had the opportunity to see the group in action. They are true support group, and it is a great networking opportunity for members and visitors, as well as people with chronic illnesses. The group members are very friendly, and lift the spirits of anyone attending their meetings. Councilwoman Hauck also pointed out that people with these types of afflictions have a real need to talk to other people to understand what is happening to them. If more people knew of these programs, Councilwoman Hauck believes they would take advantage of them. Mr. Watrel pointed out that people with disabilities do not let themselves be defined by their disabilities, but they work very hard and they appreciate the encouragement they get from others.
Cynthia Halaby, 374 Evergreen Place, is the President of the Conservancy for Ridgewood Public Lands. Ms. Halaby said she was excited to share the news that this year, the Conservancy for Ridgewood Public Lands is combining forces with the Ridgewood Environmental Advisory Committee (REAC) to sponsor an event entitled “Ridgewood Grows Green and Yellow,” which will celebrate Earth Day as well as the second annual Daffodil Festival. The event will be on Sunday, April 19th, at Memorial Park at Van Neste Square, from 11:00 A.M.-3:00 P.M. Everyone is invited to attend. There will be activities for children and families, including crafts, a fine arts show, and a dog parade, among other activities. It is hoped that the weather will be warm and sunny, because they have planted 14,000 daffodil bulbs in the last two years, and Ms. Halaby is concerned because she has not seen any of them coming up yet.
Councilman Sedon thanked Ms. Halaby for her comments, and agreed that it seems like it will be a very exciting event.
Jane Remis, 118 Madison Place, wanted to discuss the traffic safety problem around Ridge Elementary School. When Ms. Remis moved to Ridgewood in 1992, she walked her children to school with no problem, because there was plenty of parking for those who drove their children to school. However, recently an addition was added on to the school, requiring more staff, as well as the addition of another small parking lot. The hiring of new staff meant that the parking spaces that were formerly available to parents driving their children to school were no longer available. Those parents were forced to park their cars along Maltbie Avenue, which is now prohibited due to complaints from residents of Midland Park. Therefore, the only close parking available is along streets that have no sidewalks. Cars start lining up along West Ridgewood Avenue at around 3:00 P.M. to pick up their children, but if there are cars in the parking spots on West Ridgewood Avenue from Hillside Avenue to North Murray Avenue, any cars that want to go past the school are forced to go into the lane of on-coming traffic to get around those that are waiting to pick up their children. The Ridgewood Police Department is frequently called to force the line of cars to disperse. It is not a safe situation, and it is where the vast majority of students who attend Ridge Elementary live. That is why Ms. Remis was very disappointed when the Councilmembers voted against installing sidewalks on Clinton Avenue. Although she understands the feelings of the residents of Clinton Avenue who think it is safe because no one has ever been involved in an accident there, Ms. Remis does not believe it is really safe. She understands that sidewalks are not the answer to every problem, but she believes that it is much safer for people to walk on sidewalks, rather than in the streets. Ms. Remis noted that there are three streets from the old “country club” section that lead to Ridge Elementary School. Those streets are South Murray Avenue, Maltbie Avenue, and Clinton Avenue. Recently, South Murray and Maltbie Avenues were repaved, leaving no room for sidewalks, and they are not scheduled for repaving for another several years. Therefore, Ms. Remis believes that if sidewalks are not installed on Clinton Avenue, it will create a situation that is unsafe for children walking to school. She pointed out that parents who will not allow their children to walk along Clinton Avenue are now waiting in the line of traffic to drop off and pick up their children, or trying to find a parking spot near the school, and Ms. Remis stated that it leads to a lot of congestion, as well as a tense atmosphere and arguments among the drivers. Councilman Pucciarelli thanked Ms. Remis for her comments, and noted that Councilman Sedon is the Village Council liaison to the Citizens Safety Advisory Committee, and would be bringing those comments back to the committee.
Councilwoman Knudsen thanked Ms. Remis for coming forward, and for the email she sent on the night that the vote occurred about her concerns. Councilwoman Knudsen pointed out that today, there were several other emails received in support of Ms. Remis’s position. Ms. Remis acknowledged that the Councilmembers listened to the concerns of the residents on Clinton Avenue, and that the opposing viewpoints were not adequately represented.
Anastasia Bamberg, 142 Melrose Place, commented that she moved to Ridgewood in 2011 because she thought it was a walkable community. Ms. Bamberg was very excited to hear that the Village Council embraced the “Complete Streets” Project, but she was rather disappointed after attending many of the meetings about the bike lane, which she supported, to find the atmosphere at those meetings to be very contentious. Ms. Bamberg did not feel safe in standing up to state her opinion and she was disappointed that the project had not been properly communicated to residents, nor had the long-term benefits or the vision been communicated. Ms. Bamberg sees that re-occurring with the situation on Clinton Avenue, where she believes that there is no way that the Village could be in compliance with the Complete Streets program if the road is repaved with gutters and new drainage for residents, without also putting in sidewalks. Ms. Bamberg flatly stated that if the Village does not intend to comply with the Complete Streets program, they should not do it at all. The program requires education, as well as avoiding supporting something simply because the residents want it. It also requires a lot of communication, so that people realize that things will not be the same as they were, and everyone has to compromise. Ms. Bamberg walks with her child up Clinton Avenue nearly every day, and she sees cars in the street every day, as well as children nearly getting hit by cars. She and her children have tried to walk to Ridge Elementary School at night for events, but it is very dangerous to walk on any of those streets at night. Ms. Bamberg understands the concerns of the residents on Clinton Avenue who do not want sidewalks, but she believes the decision needs to be reconsidered, and that the future of Ridgewood is in the Complete Streets program.
Kathryn Sachs, 18 North Hillside Place, stated that she lives down the street from Ridge Elementary School. Her driveway is the second one from the school, presenting a very convenient parking space for many of the large SUVs that come to the school in the mornings and afternoons. Ms. Sachs described the afternoons from approximately 2:55 P.M.-3:10 P.M. as a “death zone”. She does not attempt to leave her house or driveway at that time for fear of her car getting hit, as well as the belief that a child might get hit. While Ms. Sachs understands the history and traditions in Ridgewood, she also knows that the Village has a specific policy about walking to school. She has seen many near-misses in front of her house, the most recent one occurring today. It does not make sense to Ms. Sachs that no sidewalks would be installed on Clinton Avenue, given the safety concerns. Ms. Sachs also pointed out that there is no crossing guard in the morning for the George Washington Middle School students, although there is one in the afternoon. Most of the children walking along the streets are small, and cannot be seen from cars. Many drivers are making illegal traffic moves, including U-turns in the middle of the streets, all while children are walking to and from school. Ms. Sachs pointed out that it would be a tragedy if the child were to be killed, but it is a possibility.
Councilwoman Hauck commented that she believes there is a behavioral problem, and it is not only about the sidewalks. Children walking to school on the sidewalks will cross over driveways and in other places where drivers are making illegal moves and turns. These are problems that Councilwoman Hauck has seen at every school, and seems to be an offshoot of the desire of every parent to drive his/her child to school. She pointed out that when the schools were built, most of the parents did not drive their children to school, and there are no areas to accommodate all of the cars that are now in the streets around the schools. The combination of increased traffic, people who are in a hurry, and those who feel compelled to make illegal traffic moves, can only lead to tragedy. Councilwoman Hauck believes it is up to everyone to practice more decorum and decency. The issue of cars lined up around the corner for drop-offs and pickups cannot be solved simply by putting sidewalks in on Clinton Avenue. There were never any sidewalks on Clinton Avenue.
Ms. Sachs responded that she respected Councilwoman Hauck’s comments, but the problem is that there is no one managing the situation at Ridge Elementary School. There is one crossing guard in the mornings and afternoons to take care of students walking to and from school at the northern end, toward Midland Park. However, there is no crossing guard for students on the other side, who are running down the hill to meet their parents in their cars. Councilman Pucciarelli asked for confirmation that there is a crossing guard in the mornings and afternoons by Ridge Elementary School, which Ms. Sachs confirmed, and she added that the crossing guard only covers that one intersection. Councilman Pucciarelli noted that there is a crossing guard in the afternoons only for George Washington School, which Ms. Sachs also confirmed, saying that there is no crossing guard for the middle school at the intersection where the Ridgewood Women’s Club is located. That crossing guard does not report until after 8:00 A.M., when the middle school students are already in school. Ms. Sachs said that her greatest concern is the intersection of North Hillside Place and West Ridgewood Avenue, although there are many other traffic problems in that area. It is necessary to have someone take charge of the situation, because it is chaos. That is a short-term solution. Mayor Aronsohn said someone would be looking into it.
Councilwoman Knudsen asked for confirmation that the main issue seems to be that installing sidewalks on Clinton Avenue would alleviate some of the traffic problems in that area. It might also encourage people to consider the school to be a walkable school if there were sidewalks available to make it safer for children to walk back and forth. Mayor Aronsohn added that the key point to consider is the necessity of having a crossing guard for the middle school in both the mornings and the afternoons.
Ms. Sonenfeld suggested that she and Councilman Sedon could discuss this and bring the issue up at the next Citizens Safety Advisory Committee meeting. Councilman Sedon responded that most of the meetings he has attended since he became a Councilmember have dealt with parking and different issues around Ridge Elementary School. Christopher Rutishauser, Village Engineer, and Sergeant Pullman visited the area at different times, which seems to have had many issues occurring around there.
Lorraine Reynolds, 550 Wyndemere Avenue, wanted to talk about the North Walnut Street Redevelopment Zone. She was very surprised at some of the drastic changes proposed in the current plan, because when she attended the meetings, the changes were referred to as “very minor” and “not substantial”. However, after reviewing the 2007 and 2014 plans, she was surprised to see how significant the proposed changes are. Ms. Reynolds said she is trying to figure out how these items were changed from 2007 to 2014. As far she can tell, the first time it was discussed was at a Planning Board meeting on February 18, 2014. Councilman Pucciarelli read a statement from Mayor Aronsohn urging the Planning Board to move forward on the Redevelopment Zone from 2007, because Blais Brancheau, Village Planner, was going to make changes for 2014. There was some discussion that night, and apparently some Planning Board members were concerned about the height of the assisted living facility, and whether it was appropriate for the location. The discussion dealt with the pros and cons of an assisted living facility; parking structures; and the number of parking spaces needed. The Planning Board said it wanted the Redevelopment Zone to be part of the historic district and Chairman Nalbantian asked Mr. Brancheau to come back to the Planning Board with recommendations. The discussion was to continue at the March 18, 2014, meeting. At that meeting, the agenda included a discussion of the Redevelopment Zone, but there are no minutes available for that meeting. The minutes have not yet been approved, and the meeting was held more than one year ago. Ms. Reynolds was at the meeting, and she took notes. However, her notes and memories are minimal about what occurred at that meeting.
On April 2, 2014, at the Village Council meeting, Mr. Brancheau submitted a memorandum summarizing the recommendations of the Planning Board. Ms. Reynolds assumes the recommendations were from the March 18, 2014, meeting, but there is no record of it. In addition, there is nothing available on the website with respect to Mr. Brancheau’s memorandum. Ms. Reynolds believes that should be public, but it is not available. At that meeting, Mayor Aronsohn asked Mr. Brancheau to put the recommendations in the form of an ordinance to be introduced at the April 9, 2014, Public Meeting. Mayor Aronsohn also said that in the meantime, the recommendations would be reviewed again by the Planning Board for their comment, just as with any zoning ordinance. Ms. Reynolds believes that sounded as if it would be going back before the Planning Board. However, on April 9, 2014, the Village Council introduced Ordinance #3411, which was to be adopted on first reading, and a hearing date was fixed for May 14, 2014. As far as Ms. Reynolds knows, it did not go back to the Planning Board for further review. On April 30, 2014, there was an item on the Planning Board agenda regarding a discussion of Ordinance #3411. However, there are no minutes available of that meeting, either. The Village Council, at its May 14, 2014, Public Meeting, adopted the ordinance.
Ms. Reynolds stated that it seemed everyone was aware that there would be a lot of discussion about going from 12 units per acre to 40 or possibly 50 units per acre. The changes recorded from the 2007 plan to the 2014 plan went from a density of 12 units per acre if there is housing to no maximum density if it is an assisted living facility. Ms. Reynolds does not believe that the Planning Board members understood that allowing an assisted living facility also meant unlimited density. That is why she wants to see the minutes of the meetings referenced. She also pointed out that the Village Council adopted an ordinance without a clear understanding of the Planning Board’s recommendations, because the minutes were never approved. Ms. Reynolds finds that confusing. She pointed out that the Kensington property allows 73.1 units per acre, which she considers huge. Ms. Reynolds would also like to know why it has taken so long for Planning Board minutes to be approved, and what the procedure is with respect to this particular Redevelopment Zone. According to the current regulations for a Redevelopment Zone, all applications for development within a Redevelopment Zone shall be referred to the Historic Preservation Committee, and Ms. Reynolds asked if that applies to the North Walnut Street Redevelopment Zone.
Mayor Aronsohn suggested that Ms. Reynolds contact Charles Nalbantian, Chairman of the Planning Board, with respect to the meeting minutes. As far as the North Walnut Street Redevelopment Zone is concerned, that will be discussed later in this meeting, and it is hoped that the discussion will answer some of the questions.
Councilwoman Knudsen asked Ms. Reynolds to give the dates for which the minutes are unavailable, which Ms. Reynolds did.
John Hersperger, 347 Linwood Avenue, also asked about the North Walnut Street Redevelopment Zone. Mr. Hersperger stated that he first paid attention to this issue at the March 18, 2014, Planning Board meeting. Most of the discussion seemed to be about adding an assisted living facility to the plan. To his recollection, there was no discussion about the height of the buildings, or about the density. Mr. Hersperger believes it was in July or August 2014 that the revised plan was put on the Village website, which is when he reviewed it. He noted that the density was listed for the residential housing at 12 units per acre, but with respect to the assisted living facility, there was language to the effect that the rules do not apply to assisted living facilities, without specifying the density. As of March 11, 2015, Mr. Hersperger pointed out that two finalists have apparently been chosen for the North Walnut Redevelopment Area, one of which has stated that there will be approximately 98 units per acre. Mr. Hersperger said this is a very large number, especially considering the fact that most people seem to be trying to cut 50 units per acre down to 20-30 units per acre. Mr. Hersperger has a problem with the substance of that possibility, as well as the procedure. It seems to Mr. Hersperger that this discussion has reached the eleventh hour, for a couple of reasons. One of them is that on the Closed Session agenda tonight is an item regarding contract negotiations for the North Walnut Street Redevelopment Zone. The second reason is the proposed developer for the assisted living facility has mentioned that he is under contract for the Town Garage property, which is another reason for Village residents to think that it is a done deal. Mr. Hersperger pointed out that no one heard the number of 98 units per acre until a couple of weeks ago, yet there seems to be a great deal of progress made on this issue very rapidly. Contract negotiations seem to be already underway, presumably with the entity that has the contract to buy the property. Mr. Hersperger thinks this needs to be discussed publicly so that Ridgewood residents can better understand what this proposal is about, and why the Village Council seems to be focusing on this proposal.
Mayor Aronsohn answered that the Village Council has been very transparent during this process, and everything has been done openly. In fact, when the representative from Kensington first came to the Village Council approximately two years ago, he mentioned approximately 80 units per acre at that time, but that was far too early in the process to discuss such details. Mayor Aronsohn assured Mr. Hersperger and other Ridgewood residents that they will be hearing a lot more about this issue going forward, and the only reason for holding discussions during Closed Session is due to the legality of some of the issues. However, no proposal has been chosen at this time. The Village is awaiting more financial information. Public discussions will continue on this issue, and Ms. Sonenfeld will be talking about it more during her Manager’s Report.
There were no other comments from the public at this time, and Mayor Aronsohn closed the time for public comment.
3. MOTION TO SUSPEND WORK SESSION AND CONVENE SPECIAL PUBLIC MEETING
At 9:15 P.M., upon a motion by Councilman Pucciarelli, seconded by Councilwoman Hauck, and carried by unanimous voice vote, the Village Council suspended the Work Session.
4. MOTION TO RECONVENE WORK SESSION
At 9:24 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; Heather Mailander, Village Clerk; and Matthew Rogers, Village Attorney.
5. PRESENTATIONS
a. Proposed Girl Scout Bronze Project – Planting of Tree on Veterans Field
Councilman Sedon stated that Crystal of the Shade Tree Commission, whose daughter is the liaison for the Girl Scout group, would be introducing the Girl Scouts.
Crystal stated that Junior Girl Scout Troop 94192 has been working on this project in partnership with the Department of Parks and Recreation. The project focuses on providing shade to the playground next to Village Hall, and would include planting lace bark elms, which would provide shade and a better playground for children during the summer.
The Troop Leader is Noelle Nicholson, who allowed each of the Girl Scouts to give information. They thanked Councilman Sedon for inviting them to the meeting, and Mayor Aronsohn and the Council Members, as well as the citizens of Ridgewood, for allowing them to present their projects. They are in their second year as Junior Girl Scouts, and many of them are in their sixth year as Girl Scouts. They are working on several projects this year, and asked for the support of the Councilmembers with their Bronze Award project, which is the highest honor that can be earned as a Junior Girl Scout. During this award, the girls must complete a Junior Journey Award; identify a Bronze Award project that answers a community need; design and execute all aspects of a plan that successfully accomplishes that project; and share their results with the community with the hopes of inspiring others. So far, they have identified a number of possible projects, and debated the pluses and minuses of each. They then selected their final choice, which was to install shade trees for the children’s playground at Veterans Field. There are many steps to accomplish this goal, and the support of the Councilmembers will be very important to the project’s success.
The four main areas of focus are to work with the Shade Tree Commission to learn about trees; to make the best tree selection for the targeted planting area; gaining approvals from all necessary authorities; acquiring materials and resources needed for the planting; and developing a plan to publicize the finished product. The girls noted that trees are important, and do many wonderful things for everyone. They help improve air and soil quality; help control noise pollution; help manage storm runoff and fight soil erosion; help reduce carbon dioxide and global warming; enhance curb appeal; and provide much-needed shade. The Girl Scouts have identified an area that is in need of shade, which is the children’s playground just outside of Village Hall at Veterans Field. They surveyed 140 Ridgewood families with children in kindergarten and first grade, and 66% of them (92 families) responded. Out of these, 97% qualified for the survey because they had at least one child under seven years old. Of those with a child under seven, 92% qualified because they had visited the Veterans Field playground with their children. Out of the qualified respondents, 99% said they think the play area would benefit from more shade, and 80% said they wished for more shade there in the past.
Earlier this month, the Troop met and assembled a long list of questions about tree selection and planting. They met with Mr. Madden, the Ridgewood Arborist, who was very helpful. Mr. Madden taught them a lot about trees, and recommended three varieties that he thought would do well in that area. The Girl Scouts chose the lace bark elm because it grows quickly, provides a lot of shade, and has a beautiful bark. It is not prone to bugs or infestations, and will not require any soil treatment to adjust acidic levels. In addition, there is only such tree in Ridgewood at this time. The Troop will cover all the cost of planting the tree with the money earned from their cookie sales and the generous support of Brian Tauscher of Artisan Gardens. They expect to be able to plant three trees.
The specific planting area involves planting trees in the south/or east areas, near the playground. Mr. Madden reviewed their goals and agreed that the location is the right one. They are working with Timothy Cronin, Director of the Department of Parks and Recreation, and the Shade Tree Commission to choose the exact planting locations that will maximize playground shade; look nice from inside and outside the playground; and accommodate any planting constraints, like gas or water lines. When the planting is complete, the Girl Scouts want to spread the word that there are two goals involved in this effort. One is to educate and inspire others to serve the community; and the other is to bring attention to what the newly-relaunched Ridgewood Shade Tree Commission hopes to do. They have a number of ideas about how to spread the word, including local newspapers, school broadcast programs, as well as a plaque at the planting site, to name a few.
Their next steps are to take an opportunity to thank Mr. Wolfson and Dr. Mosbacher of the Shade Tree Commission for their support so far; gain support of the Village Council; finalize the exact planting locations, authorizations, and resources; and complete the planting as soon as possible. Their targeted date is during the month of April.
Mayor Aronsohn commended the Girl Scouts for their presentation, saying that it was one of the best ever. He also commended their initiative.
Councilman Sedon stated that it was the second time he had seen the presentation, and it was just as wonderful as before. He gave it his enthusiastic support.
Councilwoman Hauck said she was inspired by the Girl Scouts, and by their intelligence as well as their articulate presentation. She also found them engaging, and very competent. Councilwoman Hauck said she would support the project.
Councilman Pucciarelli admired their choice of tree, and he hopes to add one to his backyard.
Councilwoman Knudsen gave her full support to the project. She thought the presentation was wonderful, informative, and very well-done.
A resolution of approval will be on the agenda for the April 8, 2015 Public Meeting.
b. Proposed Eagle Scout Project – Learning on the Trails of Habernickel
Councilwoman Hauck and Nancy Bigos, Deputy Director of the Department of Parks and Recreation, introduced the latest Eagle Scout candidate, Robert Schablik of Boy Scout Troop 7. Ms. Bigos commented that Robert had done his Life Scout project at Habernickel Park two years ago, when he and approximately 14 other young men helped clear some old fencing, debris, and two truckloads of garbage and limbs from the site. This was just after the park had been officially dedicated. After that time, he joined the Conservancy for Ridgewood Public Lands (CRPL), and he and his fellow Scouts planted more than 1,000 daffodil bulbs on the curb at Habernickel Family Park. Councilwoman Hauck and other members of the community also assisted on that project. In addition, Robert has supported the CRPL by volunteering to assist with the plant sale. His dedication is very strong.
Mr. Schablik introduced himself by saying that he is a Life Scout in Troop 7. His Eagle Scout project involves adding to the lower portion of Habernickel Family Park. Mr. Schablik explained that Habernickel Family Park was important to him throughout his life, when he was petting the horses as a child. Sadly, the horses are no longer there, but the park is still well-utilized with the sports fields, and the bridge and fishing docks built by Mr. Schablik’s Troop. It is one of his favorite places, and it was his first thought when choosing his Eagle Scout project. However, he noticed that there is a lower portion of the trail along the Ho-Ho-Kus Brook that is not utilized as much as the upper portions, and Mr. Schablik would like to add “life” to that area.
Mr. Schablik met with the Parks, Recreation, and Conservation (PRC) Board, as well as Mr. Rutishauser, who supported his plan, which has four components. The first component encompasses signage, because as mentioned before, Mr. Schablik noticed that the lower portion of the park is not utilized as much as the upper portion, and he hopes to promote more use of that area, especially since there are existing trails from another Eagle Scout project. Mr. Schablik believes that if more signage is installed to point out the trails, with directional arrows, it will encourage people to explore more of the park. Mr. Schablik and Ms. Bigos are searching for a company to provide posts for the signs, similar to those at the McFaul Wildlife Center, or another State park nearby.
Another component to his plan is education. Mr. Schablik cited as an example the signs at McFaul Wildlife Center indicating different trees and species, as well as flora and fauna. Mr. Schablik indicated he enjoyed reading all of the facts contained on the signs. He proposes adding 6-8 similar signs in that area of Habernickel Park. In addition, he and Ms. Bigos are looking for a company that could provide engraving on the history of the different trees and wildlife, as well as the history of the Ho-Ho-Kus Brook, to encourage people to explore the trails.
The third component of his plan is expansion, which will add interest in exploring the park. Mr. Schablik proposes expanding the current trail to the other side of the park where there is a beautiful grove of beech trees, which are unique to this area, and which will encourage people to explore further. There is also a nice view of the dam from the bottom. He has also considered putting a bench along the Brook for people to sit, and perhaps they can fish or take photos, or just enjoy the scenery.
The final component, and the most important one, is safety. Because there is a steep slope running down to the Ho-Ho-Kus Brook from the top of the park, safety is a primary consideration, especially since people from the community will be walking the trails. Mr. Schablik believes that the trails are currently not very safe, and he has some ideas to promote safety. One of them is a farmer’s fence, which is a rustic style of barricade that promotes safety and prevents people from going the wrong way. Mr. Schablik envisions two of these fences, one at the beginning of the trail, and another further along the trail. He also noticed that during one of the recent storms, many trees fell down, destroying some of the lower plant life along the soil. Mr. Schablik will be meeting with the Ridgewood Arborist about planting a fern garden that once existed there to add color to the bottom of the park and help absorb water, which can help to prevent flooding from the Ho-Ho-Kus Brook.
Mr. Schablik urged the Councilmembers to support his project, saying that he is very excited about it because he can give back to the park that has meant so much to him. He would also like to get the community involved in beautifying such a great park.
Mayor Aronsohn thanked Mr. Schablik for his presentation, as well as for the work he did in the past at Habernickel Park. He thinks it is a great proposal, and Mayor Aronsohn particularly likes the emphasis on safety, which is a concern for everyone.
Councilwoman Hauck thanked Mr. Schablik and commended him for his civic contribution, as well as for knowing who to work with in government to achieve his goals. Building that kind of relationship between citizens and government is important, according to Councilwoman Hauck. She thinks the project is much bigger than Mr. Schablik revealed, because the third component actually contains three elements, and the fourth one has two parts. Councilwoman Hauck also pointed out that most people do not know about the lower portion of the park, including the fact that the Ho-Ho-Kus Brook has a little bit of “beach” in that area. There is simply a cutout in the fencing in that area, but no signage to indicate that the park continues in that direction. People may think that they are not welcome in that area. She appreciates Mr. Schablik’s ideas for making it more inviting there, including the idea of installing a bench in that area. It is a place where people can sit and reflect and enjoy the open space, which Mr. Schablik will make possible. Councilwoman Hauck also commended Mr. Schablik for the backbreaking work he undertook when cleaning up Habernickel Park in the past.
Councilman Sedon said it looks like a really great project, and he fully supports it, because, as Councilwoman Hauck stated, it opens up areas of the park that people might not have known about, and will lead to more usage of the park. It will also be a benefit to the community. Councilman Sedon also thanked Mr. Schablik for all of the work he has already done in the park.
Councilman Pucciarelli commended Mr. Schablik for coming up with a creative way to encourage use of the passive portion of the park without being intrusive. He also likes Mr. Schablik’s motivation, which is to give back to the park that has brought him so much pleasure.
Councilwoman Knudsen also congratulated Mr. Schablik for a wonderful idea. She said she loves the signage, and his ideas for education, expansion, and safety in his project. In addition, Councilwoman Knudsen thinks the signage will be helpful to people coming into the park to let them know what is available to them. She also finds his ideas aesthetically pleasing.
Mayor Aronsohn stated that all of the Councilmembers are looking forward to Mr. Schablik’s Eagle Scout ceremony.
A resolution of approval be put on to the agenda for the April 8, 2015 Public Meeting.
c. Central Bergen County Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvement Plans
Councilman Sedon said that he attended the first meeting of this group with Mr. Rutishauser, and this plan involves eight communities, including Ridgewood. It involves a project that will interconnect the communities with pedestrian and bicycle access.
Mike Dannemiller is the principal engineer at the RBA Group, the engineering consultant firm hired by Bergen County for this project, and stated that this improvement plan comes at no cost to Ridgewood, and no cost to any of the town involved in the plan. His firm is coming up with many bicycle and pedestrian enhancements throughout the towns. If his firm is told that it is difficult to cross the street or walk along the street in a particular area, Mr. Dannemiller said they try to come up with concepts to alleviate any problems. He is working with Mr. Rutishauser to ensure that the network that goes throughout the eight communities dovetails with any plans in Ridgewood. That will authorize the county to deal with anything that is implemented on their roads, and authorized Ridgewood to proceed with any funding applications that might be needed. Mr. Dannemiller pointed out that some parts of the project may be handled from within the Village, but if it is necessary to apply for funding, the project will include a plan for each municipality to apply for that funding, no matter what the source might be. Mr. Dannemiller is very happy to know that Ridgewood is participating in the Complete Streets program, because that will facilitate implementation of this plan in Ridgewood. It will also help to make motorized traffic in Ridgewood a bit safer. There are some traffic calming aspects to the plan, but it is mostly involved with pedestrian safety, and that is where most of the benefits will be reaped. All of these plans will come to fruition within the next month or so. In addition, Mr. Dannemiller left information regarding a public meeting that is to occur on Thursday, April 16th, in Elmwood Park 4:00 P.M.-7:00 P.M. Mr. Dannemiller noted that this project has been on-going for nearly a year, and is very inclusive.
Mr. Rutishauser mentioned that he has attended several meetings with the design team working with Bergen County. They are currently assessing the condition of the County roads, and the Village has considerable assets in the Duck Pond and the bike path along the Saddle River. Some of the ideas that have been discussed include developing routes to bring some of the riders off the bike path and into the CBD, and how that can be done as safely as possible. Once some of those ideas are formalized, they will be brought to the Councilmembers for their consideration and comment.
Councilwoman Hauck said she can support anything that will get people out of their cars and on bicycles, although she realizes it is difficult, because it is seasonal. She pointed out that it does not have to be. This seems to be a global initiative that has been embraced by many municipalities.
Councilman Pucciarelli commented that he sees bicyclists navigating from East Ridgewood Avenue to West Ridgewood Avenue via the railroad underpass every day, and just recently, he saw a cyclist navigating from the right side of the right lane to the left side of the right lane to head toward Garber Square and Goffle Road, while the driver of the car was making a right turn onto Ridgewood Avenue. The transition was smoothly accomplished, and the cyclist’s right-of-way was respected.
Councilwoman Knudsen also embraces the Complete Streets program, and she likes that this plan incorporates it. She walks regularly, and believes that integration of biking and pedestrians is a wonderful idea.
Councilman Sedon thanked Mr. Dannemiller for his presentation, and asked what initiatives are being considered for pedestrian safety. Mr. Dannemiller responded that one of the easiest ways to enhance pedestrian safety is with the use of paint, and creating high-visibility crosswalks, as well as curb ramps that are accessible and visible. At traffic signals, it is important to add pedestrian countdown timers, so that pedestrians actually know how much time they have to cross the street. Those are simple ways to enhance pedestrian safety. There has also been discussion about curb extensions to narrow the crossing distance.
Mayor Aronsohn said that for years, there have been discussions about installing crosswalks with lights flashing on and off. He asked Mr. Dannemiller for his opinion about those lights, because it was tried in Ridgewood using solar-powered lights. Mr. Dannemiller responded that in 1999, he piloted that program in New Jersey, and helped to author some of the studies on the program. He believes that there are better tools available, such as Rectangular Rapid Flash Beacons (RRFBs), which are comprised of a standard diamond-shaped sign with a placard at the bottom that has a light that flashes.
d. Ridgewood Shade Tree Commission – Adopt-A-Tree Program
Councilman Sedon stated that much of the information provided was simply a review for the Councilmembers. There is already a waiting list, and procedures are handled by the Department of Parks and Recreation. According to the current waiting list, it could take years to get a tree planted. However, with the new initiative, an applicant could pay for the tree in the planting, as well as the time for the Village employee to plant the tree, and it could all be accomplished relatively quickly, provided there are no other obstructions, such as power lines. Trees would be planted in the fall, except that shorter trees would be planted in the spring.
George Wolfson, Chairman of the Shade Tree Commission, explained that this program implements a method in which residents can have trees planted in the Village. The Commissioners evaluated many different programs, and listened to the Councilmembers’ requests. They also considered how the trees would be paid for and maintained. All of that is included in the proposed program. Under this program, there are two ways in which residents can have a tree planted. The first is to use the old-fashioned way, which is to have his/her name placed on a waiting list until funds are available to purchase and plant a tree, which is a very long process and is not considered to be very effective. The other way is a modification of the New York State tree planting program, plus some ideas taken from New Jersey municipalities. The Commissioners wanted to make it as easy as possible, so the method is that the resident fills out an application with contact information and other pertinent data; pays the appropriate fee; and the Shade Tree Commission either arranges for an outside vendor to provide and plant the tree, or if there is enough time, the tree could be purchased from an outside vendor and installed by Village staff. The issue of administration still has to be worked on. Mr. Wolfson said that the Shade Tree Commission is now developing a webpage to aid in this program. The Village could decide to limit the number of trees that are to be planted, but that is something that can be considered if and when it becomes necessary. Mr. Wolfson pointed out that maintenance includes three things: water, weeding, and mulching, none of which is very expensive. Watering is most important in the early years. At the end of the sixth year, the resident must arrange for shape pruning, which molds the shape of the tree. The other aspect of the maintenance program is that the Shade Tree Commissioners hope to establish a volunteer force to maintain the trees, in which people who are interested in tree can volunteer their time to observe the trees, make some recommendations, and even assist in the watering, weeding, and mulching. The areas that most people consider to be expensive when discussing trees are end-of-life issues, or citizen safety issues. Citizens’ safety is a responsibility of the Village, as is the decision about what should be done when a tree gets old.
Ms. Sonenfeld noted that she met with Mr. Cronin, and they have agreed to support this program.
Councilman Sedon said he supports this program, after having seen the presentations.
Councilwoman Hauck thanked Mr. Wolfson and the rest of the Shade Tree Commission for their work on this program, and noted that they are common sense solutions to the issue. This is important because it will yield heritage, beauty, and shade for Ridgewood, which are very important.
Councilwoman Knudsen thanked Mr. Wolfson and the Shade Tree Commission for their efforts. She noted that the Girl Scouts express the idea that trees offer visual beauty, as well as serving as pollution control and noise control, so they add so much to the environment in addition to their beauty, serving an incredible purpose.
e. Coalition Against the Pilgrim Pipeline (CAPP)
Councilman Sedon introduced Jerome Wagner with CAPP, who would give the Village Council information about the proposed Pilgrim Pipeline from Albany, New York, to Linden, New Jersey and back, to transport crude oil, refine it, and then ship it back to New York. The pipeline is not expected to pass through Ridgewood, but it could have an impact on the water supply and other environmental issues.
Mr. Wagner prefaced his presentation by saying that this issue might seem to be more intangible than the previous presentations, but he asked the Councilmembers to think about the long-term impact. Mr. Wagner lives in Wayne, New Jersey, and has been an environmental engineer for 30 years. He has been active in the CAPP for almost a year, and he is presently employed by Food and Water Watch, and was speaking on their behalf at this meeting. The leaders of the Coalition include the Sierra Club; the Food and Water Watch branch in New Jersey; and Clean Water Action. Mr. Wagner mentioned that the Food and Water Watch and Sierra Club have 350-400 members in Ridgewood. He thanked Councilman Sedon for giving him the time to speak with the Councilmembers, and Ms. Mailander for distributing his materials to the Councilmembers.
Mr. Wagner noted that no formal applications have been submitted for this project by the Pilgrim Pipeline. The project is still in the proposal stage, which Mr. Wagner says gives the Village the opportunity to impede the project. The pipeline will consist of two pipes running between Albany, New York, and Linden, New Jersey, with another branch running from Port Reading in the Woodbridge area. The pipes are expected to be at least 16-18 inches in diameter, or larger. The system is intended to carry crude oil from Albany to Linden, and carry the refined products from Linden or Port Reading back to Albany. The current understanding is that there is no benefit along that pipeline for distribution supporter supplies in this region. The crude material is expected to consist of Bakken crude oil, which was notably involved in recent publicity regarding trains going through Bergen County on a daily basis, and for which there are nearly weekly derailments in other parts of the country resulting in fires, explosions, and environmental contamination. It is believed the crude oil is the type of material that will be carried in the pipes. The precise route of the pipeline is unknown at this time, although there are documents available from Pilgrim Pipeline showing the route. It is expected to follow the Spectra natural gas pipeline route’s right-of-way from Mahwah to Montville, New Jersey, and enter the PSE&G right-of-way from Montville to Linden and Woodbridge, New Jersey. However, Mr. Wagner emphasized that the information is speculative at this time, because it is still the early stage of this process. One thing that is notable about the pipeline is that it will go through the Highlands Region, which is important to Mr. Wagner, because Wayne gets its water from that area, and other municipalities in New Jersey receive water from the Highlands Region. In addition, there are many other sole-source aquifers, including one in Ridgewood, which could be affected by this project.
Mr. Wagner mentioned that the municipalities through which the pipeline would pass through include Mahwah, Oakland, Wanaque, Pompton Lakes, Bloomingdale, Riverdale, Pequannock, Kinnelon, Montville, and Parsippany-Troy Hills. He commented that those towns comprise only the northern region, and the pipeline would continue down through Scotch Plains, and over to Cranford.
Mr. Wagner noted that the fuel oil poses a significant and unique risk to water supplies. It is already known the natural gas pipelines travel through the Highlands Region, but oil poses different problems. Oil cannot be treated in the water supply by the same means as other contaminants. He pointed out that Ridgewood sits over a sole-source aquifer, which is a special designation given to that feature by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) some years ago, and represents the importance of that resource to the Village. Mr. Wagner is also aware that United Water distributes water to Ridgewood at certain times, through connections at the Wanaque reservoirs. The pipeline would be routed within one-half mile of those reservoirs, and the pipeline would be uphill from the reservoirs, so that any spills could potentially contaminate the water.
Mr. Wagner mentioned that the train lines run 7-10 miles to the east of Ridgewood, through Harrington Park, and the Pilgrim Pipeline is proposed to be installed 10 miles to the west of Ridgewood. The trains run from Albany to Philadelphia, while the pipeline is expected to run from Albany to Linden, so the argument that one could replace the other is not necessarily viable.
As far as the issue of why this should be resolved now, Mr. Wagner pointed out that pipelines will leak, and it is a matter of when the pipeline will leak, not if it will leak. Therefore, the risk posed by this pipeline must be considered. New Jersey does not have a strong siting process at the State level for this type of project. Mr. Wagner believes it is incumbent upon municipalities to protect themselves in that respect. So far, 30 municipalities, counties, and the State Assembly have adopted resolutions opposing this project in very clear language. The resolutions state that they oppose the project, and that there should be a moratorium on activities like surveying on people’s properties, as well as other similar activities. Those are examples of people being proactive about this issue, rather than reactive. Mr. Wagner and the other members of CAPP invite Ridgewood to join those other municipalities in that same effort. Although the pipeline will not pass through Ridgewood, it does pose a regional threat. It is very possible that there will be times when any problems that occur in that system will affect Ridgewood. In addition, Mr. Wagner commented that standing our ground on this issue is a vital precedent for the future. If the Pilgrim Pipeline is allowed to proceed, going through the Highlands Region and other dense communities along its route, it opens the door for other similar projects in the future.
In Linden, New Jersey, where the refinery is located that will receive the crude oil and refine it, the community sent a strong resolution against this project in February 2015. That is the only community in New Jersey that ostensibly had something to gain from this program, in the form of economic activity, jobs, materials, and revenue. They opposed this project in no uncertain language, and other communities that might be affected by this issue should consider doing so as well.
Mr. Wagner noted that he included in his information a copy of the resolution adopted by the municipality of Linden, New Jersey. He encouraged the Village Council to draft and adopt a similar resolution opposing the pipeline.
Mayor Aronsohn thanked Mr. Wagner for his leadership and involvement in this issue, and for coming to the Village Council, especially so early in the process, to present his concerns. The Councilmembers have a lot to think about, and Mayor Aronsohn said they would need to take some time to go over the information and contact Mr. Wagner through Councilman Sedon for further discussion. Councilman Sedon asked Mr. Wagner if there is a website where people could get more information about this issue. Mr. Wagner responded that the Pilgrim Pipeline has a website, and people can Google “Pilgrim Pipeline” to find it. The URL for his organization, CAPP, is www.stoppilgrimpipeline.com. That website includes information about the resolutions that have been adopted so far; media coverage; maps; and other information.
6. DISCUSSION
a. Parking:
1.) Automated Garage Solutions – Presentation by Engineering Department
Ms. Sonenfeld noted that the suggestion was made by Mayor Aronsohn that the residents and the Councilmembers should start learning about automated garage solutions. One of the developers who presented last week stated that he would use an automated garage system, rather than a traditional one, so Mr. Rutishauser and his staff did some research into these systems. This would not be applicable only to the North Walnut Street Redevelopment Zone, but also to any parking garage that the Village might build on Hudson Street in the future. It was actually in that context that Mr. Rutishauser researched this issue, and it was decided that if it was found to be viable, it could also be applied to the Redevelopment Zone.
Mr. Rutishauser, Jovan Mehandzic, and Peter Affuso from the Engineering Department presented their findings on what is called automated AGV parking systems. These parking systems allow a patron to drive into a stall, exit the vehicle, and the vehicle is parked automatically in a space within the structure. There are a number of advantages and disadvantages to these systems, which were included in the information Mr. Rutishauser provided to the Councilmembers. He noted that one of the reasons that this is being considered for the Hudson Street parking lot is because the Hudson Street lot is a small site. Currently, there are 83 parking spaces at that location. If a conventional parking garage is considered, it would only increase it to approximately 170-230 additional spaces in a garage with four levels, which includes parking on the roof. It also keeps the height of the structure to 50-55 feet, which is consistent with most of the zoning ordinances. However, it has been found that with the AGV systems, or “boxes,” as they are often called, the number of cars that can be parked in the same footprint is significantly higher. According to Mr. Affuso’s research, such a structure would allow an additional 293-475 parking spaces at the Hudson Street site. That is easily double what would be available with a conventional parking garage. They have researched several different firms, including Boomerang, and Park Plus, as well as several others. Mr. Rutishauser and Mr. Affuso wanted to introduce the concept to the Councilmembers, as well as to Ridgewood residents, to start the discussion and see if the Village should go in this direction.
Mayor Aronsohn asked Mr. Rutishauser to discuss some of the advantages and disadvantages, as well as to give his recommendation as to whether this is something that is worth exploring. Mr. Rutishauser answered that he feels it is worth exploring. Everything that he and Mr. Mehandzic and Mr. Affuso saw is very encouraging. However, they are not yet at the point where they can unequivocally recommend it to the Councilmembers. They are hoping to see actual examples of these systems in use. One nearby location has been found that will be investigated further, and there is a larger facility in Miami, Florida.
Regarding the advantages of this system, the primary advantage is that significantly more vehicles can be parked within the same size structure as a conventional parking garage. The cars are also more protected, and the automated structure is climate controlled. They do not work well when the temperature goes below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, so cars are not exposed to the elements, and they are more secure. It also allows for less driver error, because owners are not driving their cars through the parking garage, but the computerized system is controlling the vehicles’ movement. That can alleviate many insurance liability issues. There also energy savings to be considered, because computers and automated systems do not require lighting, whereas a traditional parking garage must be lit. One major advantage of AGV systems is that the entire structure can be ADA-compliant, because patrons with disabilities can exit their cars in the stalls, get right into their wheelchairs, exit the stalls, and allow the vehicles to be parked within the structure. There were complaints that there are not enough handicapped parking spaces in the CBD, and that would not be a problem with an AGV system. All of the bays would be wide enough to accommodate drivers with disabilities. It also makes it easier for disabled individuals, because there is less maneuvering required by them in getting from where they left the vehicle to the garage exit. No elevators or stairs are necessary for patrons. However, Mr. Rutishauser cautioned that he would like to investigate further to see how well that actually works. There is also the possibility that an automated facility would have a more attractive exterior than a conventional parking garage, because it is completely enclosed. That would also have to be investigated, because the outside appearance of the facility would have to be consistent with other structures in the CBD.
Mr. Rutishauser noted that the newer AGV systems should not be confused with some of the older ones that are commonly known as “rack and rail” systems. There is an example of one such system in Hoboken, which has had quite a few issues and problems. Mr. Rutishauser commented that the current parking systems are several generations removed from that type of system, as well as from the system being considered for Ridgewood.
Regarding the disadvantages, Mr. Rutishauser stated that the first disadvantage is the cost. More parking spaces would be installed, and the overall cost of the garage would be higher than that of a conventional parking garage. The additional spaces that the AGV system would allow have a cost associated with them. The automated ones have a more complex operation, requiring maintenance contracts, as well as service contracts for the computer systems, to ensure that the “boxes” that move the vehicles around are functioning properly. In addition, the fact that the structure must be kept at a minimum of 40 degrees Fahrenheit must be considered. Mr. Rutishauser also stated that there are concerns with the public perception. It is very critical that in the final designs of any parking garage, thought is given to what occurs if there is an influx of people, such as when a train stops at the station, and they all want their cars from the garage. The waiting time must be considered, which leads to considering how many stalls must be incorporated in the design to achieve a release of the cars within an acceptable timeframe. Some of the AGV systems that Mr. Rutishauser has researched allow patrons to call for their cars ahead of time, using their smart phones. Following up on that idea, Mr. Rutishauser noted that some of the newer garages have multiple exits to avoid allowing the queues to become too long. An automated system will also require a backup generator. There are concerns because an automated system is more mechanically active than a traditional parking garage, and it is necessary to have fallback systems available in case of power outages or other system outages, so that people can still retrieve their cars.
Mr. Rutishauser commented that he and his staff were encouraged by what they have learned. One of the things they noticed about the automated systems is that vehicles can be no longer than 18 feet, and they will have to observe how well that will work with vehicles in the Village. There are vehicles that are longer than 18 feet, such as a crew cab pickup truck with a long bed, so it might be necessary to consider placing size restrictions on vehicles entering an automated parking garage. Most of the Village parking spaces, according to the Zoning Code, are 9 feet by 20 feet.
Ms. Sonenfeld noted that she, Mayor Aronsohn, and Councilman Sedon saw a video about the AGV systems. Unfortunately, it was not possible to have the video available for this meeting. Ms. Sonenfeld commented that it is very hard to envision how these AGV systems work until one sees the video. The video of the AGV system will be put on the Village website for anyone to watch.
Mayor Aronsohn encouraged everyone to watch the video, and he commended Mr. Rutishauser and his staff for their efforts. Mayor Aronsohn also thinks that the discussion of conventional versus automated parking systems is the right discussion for this time. He asked how many spaces would be available in a conventional parking garage, and how many spaces would be available in an automated parking system. Mr. Rutishauser responded that the net gain in parking spaces with a conventional parking structure would be approximately 230 spaces. The net gain with an automated system would be approximately 475 additional spaces, or possibly more. The number of existing spaces at that site is 83. Mayor Aronsohn also noted that Mr. Rutishauser stated that the automated system would cost more, and he asked if Mr. Rutishauser had any idea of the cost per space, and whether those costs are equivalent whether in a conventional garage or an automated system. Mr. Rutishauser responded that based on his initial research, the cost per space is nearly the same when a larger parking garage is considered, such as gaining 300+ spaces. Ms. Sonenfeld added that more time might be needed to research that information, because more information was received from one of the vendors, which must be reviewed. The maintenance costs must also be considered. Mr. Rutishauser pointed out that they would have to get more information about all of the costs, including maintenance, utility costs, staffing needs, and any other associated costs. Mayor Aronsohn pointed out that there is also a public safety element to be considered.
Councilman Pucciarelli commented that Mr. Rutishauser alluded to the Hoboken facility, where the technology is already dated, which made him realize how quickly technology changes. It is important to remember that a parking garage should have a useful life of at least 50 years, and if this technology becomes outdated in 5-10 years, Councilman Pucciarelli wondered how integrated the technology is in the structure, and if it can be replaced without replacing the entire structure. Mr. Rutishauser believes the automated systems can be upgraded. The structure does not have ramps, but does have shafts for the elevators. The future might bring more advanced elevator systems, or more advanced bots systems that move the cars. The concept at this time is very cutting edge. While Mr. Rutishauser is very interested in an automated system, he is not yet ready to say that it is the best thing for the Village. Councilman Pucciarelli understood that, and he asked if, generally speaking, the technology is so integrated into the structure that it can never be changed. Mr. Rutishauser believes that they are integrated. He explained that the basic structure would consist of concrete floors, and most likely would have concrete or steel columns and elevator shafts. There will be some stairwells, which are required in case of fire, even if the building has sprinklers. Ms. Sonenfeld pointed out that one of the vendors stated that with his system, the entire internal structure could be moved to another building.
Councilman Pucciarelli asked if a driver approaches the structure to park the car, is the driver operating the vehicle, or would an attendant be present to help the driver through the parking process. Mr. Rutishauser answered that it is another area that has to be researched, because it is important to know whether the facility has to be attended at all times, or if it is only necessary to have staff present initially to help patrons learn the process. If the facility is intended for use by regular patrons, such as commuters, those individuals will probably learn very quickly how to use the facility. However, the casual or occasional user will need more assistance. Councilman Pucciarelli noted that it is intended to be self-operating, which Mr. Rutishauser confirmed.
Councilwoman Knudsen wanted to know how many other studies will be required, because when she thinks of the differences between a conventional parking garage and the automated system, and the narrowness of the existing streets, as well as the existing congestion in that area, she would like to have some idea of whether the increased numbers of vehicles in that area will exacerbate the existing traffic conditions, rather than mitigate them. Councilwoman Knudsen thought that spreading the parking out throughout the CBD in smaller components was a tremendous benefit, because it did not have a significant impact on one area. When looking at this proposal, and considering all of the issues associated with it, Councilwoman Knudsen wondered what studies Mr. Rutishauser might be planning to conduct to avoid negatively affecting that area. Mr. Rutishauser responded that one thing that will be investigated, as he mentioned earlier, is how many people can be serviced during peak traffic periods, within a reasonable amount of time. In addition, a study would have to be done based on how the Village decides to utilize the garage. If an AGV system is chosen, with 470 additional spaces, will that be considered commuter parking. Commuter parking has distinctive peak parking times, with an inflow peak in the morning, and an outflow peak in the evening when people come home. If the facility is to be targeted toward patrons of the CBD, that usage will peak during the day and toward the evening. Therefore, the type of users for the facility will have to be considered to determine the peak periods of use. Ms. Sonenfeld added that the Bergen County Improvement Authority (BCIA) could be included in that discussion, because part of the analysis they will be doing for that area includes some of these issues. Mayor Aronsohn agreed, adding that whether the Village partners with the BCIA to build a parking garage or not, a traffic study will be essential.
Councilwoman Hauck commented that she has always been interested in new technology, and she is glad that the Village is considering it. Her biggest concern is the idea of some type of breakdown, whether in electricity, mechanics, or software, leaving a patron’s car locked in a stall. She urged everyone to watch the videos, which are very informational. Cars are scanned when they enter the bays, and are automatically put in a space that fits that vehicle. The bots are equipped with sensors, and the cars move past each other very closely. Mr. Rutishauser agreed that the automated systems are very intriguing, and that is why he wants to continue investigating those systems. He also reminded everyone of one very important feature of the automated systems, which is that when the cars are scanned, the scan also detects if children or pets are left in the cars. Councilwoman Hauck asked if maintenance would be performed by the vendor, or by Village staff. Mr. Rutishauser responded that there will certainly be a service contract with a firm qualified to service these facilities. The contract would be similar to the maintenance agreement for the elevator in Village Hall. Ms. Sonenfeld noted that administration of the entire parking structure might be outsourced by the Village, as is done in Montclair.
Councilman Sedon asked if Mr. Rutishauser plans to contact the people in Miami or any other facility that uses such a garage to get their input and recommendations about how well the AGV system has worked for them. Mr. Rutishauser responded that he has been told about a semi-automated system in Towson, Maryland, and his brother happens to live in Towson, so Mr. Rutishauser will ask him to use the system and what his thoughts are as a patron after using it. Just tonight, Mr. Rutishauser found out about a system that is either under construction or has just been constructed in New Jersey, and he wants to follow up on that. It is smaller than the garage proposed for the Village, having only 40 cars, but he would like to tour that facility, if possible, and find out what the owner’s experience with the system is, rather than only getting information from the seller. Councilman Sedon asked if there would be any way to convert it to a conventional parking garage if, for whatever reason, the Village should decide that the AGV system does not work for Ridgewood. Mr. Rutishauser responded that such an issue will be considered. They have discussed what would be necessary to retrofit such a facility. Obviously, a key element would be the installation of ramps, because an automated system consists mainly of elevators and cars on regular concrete floors. On the other hand, another option would be to continue to use the elevator system, and patrons would have to self-park their cars, if that is possible. That would require additional lighting, as well as increasing the width of the driving aisles. Councilman Sedon said it is a very exciting idea, and he is glad that it is being considered.
2.) Amendment to Definition of Loading Zones
Ms. Sonenfeld mentioned that this emanated from Police Officer Joseph Youngberg, who was looking at the existing language for loading zones and thought it needed to be amended. The proposed ordinance enhances the description of a loading zone, while also adding time frames to the amount of time that can be spent in a loading zone.
This ordinance will be put on the agenda for the April 8, 2015 Public Meeting.
b. Budget:
1.) Annual Audit – Corrective Action Plan
Ms. Sonenfeld commented that this is the corrective action plan for the annual audit. A resolution was passed accepting the 2013 audit several weeks ago. At the time the audit was received, Ms. Sonenfeld noted significant findings. There were no material weaknesses or deficiencies found, but there were areas that needed to be improved, particularly in the Finance Department, and some issues with the Municipal Court, Ridgewood Water, and some fixed asset issues. Ms. Sonenfeld has reviewed the plan with the appropriate departments, and a large portion of the plan has been executed already. Councilman Pucciarelli noted that these are corrective actions that were recommended by the auditors and implemented by the Village. Ms. Sonenfeld explained that the auditors made recommendations, and the Village came up with plans to address their recommendations. This will be put on a resolution for the April 8, 2015 Public Meeting.
2.) Award Contract – Dewatered Sludge Hauling Services
Ms. Sonenfeld noted that during the first budget review, when Mr. Rutishauser was going through the Engineering Department and Water Pollution Control Facility budgets, there was a discussion about awarding a contract to haul the sludge. It was pointed out that the truck that is currently used will have to be replaced if it continues to be used to haul sludge. The capital expenditure for that is estimated to be $220,000-$270,000. This contract would avoid a very large capital expenditure, even though it means adding $51,300 to operating expenses, which is not currently in the budget that was presented in the last two budget meetings. Mr. Rutishauser pointed out that it is an anticipated expense for nine months of service in 2015, and the price will increase slightly in 2016, which will be the second year of the two-year contract. Ms. Sonenfeld pointed out that there is always a fallback, because if it is determined that this is not working, the Village can decide to purchase a vehicle in the future. Mr. Rutishauser pointed out that the existing sludge hauling truck will be repurposed by the Street Division for brine applications.
Councilwoman Knudsen asked if this is the same sludge removal that was discussed at the budget meeting. She recalled a discussion at the budget meeting because Ridgewood is a fully built out community, there would be no significant contributors to sludge. Mr. Rutishauser explained that this is dewatered sludge from the wastewater treatment process. He added that a driving force behind the increase in sludge is the liquid waste acceptance program at the Water Pollution Control Facility (WPCF). There is the potential for a development in Washington Township connecting to the Ridgewood WPCF in the future. It consists of approximately 78 units.
Councilman Sedon asked if there is some way to offset the cost by not putting it in the operating budget, but using some of the proceeds from the liquid waste acceptance program to cover the costs of hauling the sludge. Mr. Rutishauser agreed that it would be wonderful to do that, but in municipal finance, the profit from the liquid waste acceptance program goes into the general fund. Ms. Sonenfeld noted that the expense is offset at some level.
Ms. Sonenfeld stated that for the budget meeting to be held in two weeks, it will be assumed that sludge hauling will be outsourced.
This will be put on a resolution for the April 8, 2015 Public Meeting.
3.) Approve Shared Services Agreement – Registered Environmental Health Services with Northwest Bergen Regional Health Commission
Ms. Sonenfeld explained that this is an approval for the outsourcing agreement with Northwest Bergen Regional Health Commission, who does all of the Village inspections for food establishments, nursery schools, pools, and camps.
This will be put on a resolution for the April 8, 2015 Public Meeting.
4.) Settlement Agreement – Park v. Village of Ridgewood
Ms. Sonenfeld noted that this is an authorization for Mayor Aronsohn and Ms. Mailander to sign the settlement agreement for the Estate of Park v. Village of Ridgewood. Mr. Rogers explained that because the Village was a party in the lawsuit, the Mayor and the Village Clerk must sign off on the settlement agreement to resolve all claims and releases for all the parties. Councilman Pucciarelli asked how much the final award after the appeal was. Mr. Rogers noted that it was announced at a previous meeting that the settlement agreement reached was $2.1 million. This will be put on a resolution for the April 8, 2015 Public Meeting.
5.) Municipal Alliance Grant Application
Ms. Sonenfeld commented that this approves the acceptance of the Municipal Alliance grant for $11,677. This will be put on a resolution for the April 8, 2015 Public Meeting.
6.) Approve Change Order – North Van Dien Avenue Drainage System Improvements
Ms. Sonenfeld stated that this is a change order to add additional monies to address a drainage issue on Marshall Street as the paving is done. This will be put on a resolution for the April 8, 2015 Public Meeting.
7.) Construction Code Fee Changes – Continued Discussion
Mayor Aronsohn reminded everyone that Thomas Yotka, Director of the Building Department, came to the meeting this evening at the request of Councilwoman Knudsen, who had some questions about the construction code fees which were previously discussed.
Mr. Yotka pointed out that any fees that were identified in red are higher than those being proposed in Ridgewood. The ones in yellow are identical to the proposed Ridgewood fees. He noted that 27% of the fees remain unchanged in this proposal. For example, the minimum fee for additions is less than that charged in Glen Rock. The alteration fee is less than that charged by the State of New Jersey. In fact, the minimum fee for alterations is the same as that charged by Parsippany and Glen Rock. Fees for retaining walls are less than those in Parsippany, as well as the fees recommended by the State. The fees for in-ground pools are less than those charged in Englewood, and the demolition fee for principal buildings is also less than that charged by Englewood and Glen Rock. The demolition fee for an accessory structure, such as a garage, barn, or shed, is the same as the fee in Englewood or Glen Rock, but less than that charged in Westfield. The fee for moving a structure is less than the fee in Englewood, but the same as the one in Madison.
Regarding electrical fees, the low horsepower motor fees are less than what is charged in Englewood or Madison, and the higher horsepower motor fees are less than those charged in Englewood. With respect to generators, the fees for 1-100 kilovolt generators are less than those in Englewood, Parsippany, Glen Rock, and Westfield. The fees for the larger generators are less than those in Parsippany, Glen Rock, Westfield, Madison, and Summit. Fees for replacing an air-conditioning unit are the same as those in Madison, but less than those in Glen Rock and Englewood. The electrical minimums for residential work are the same as those in Glen Rock. Plumbing fixture fees are less than those charged in Englewood. Fire system component fees are 50% less than those charged in Glen Rock. Standpipe fees are less than those in Englewood, Parsippany, and the State. Fire pump fees are identical to those in Westfield, Parsippany, and Englewood. Pre-engineered system fees are the same as those in Glen Rock and Englewood.
The fees for solid wood-burning appliances are the same as those in Englewood, while gas and oil-fired appliance fees are the same as those in Englewood and Glen Rock. Commercial cooking exhaust permits are less than those in Englewood and Glen Rock, and the minimum fee in the fire sub-code is less than those in Glen Rock.
Mr. Yotka thinks it is important that all of the minimum fees in Ridgewood remain unchanged, and some of the fire sub-code fees were adjusted to meet the minimum.
Mayor Aronsohn thanked Mr. Yotka for putting this together, and for his efforts in researching his proposal for these revisions. He suggested that the chart could be posted on the Village website after the ordinance is adopted.
Councilwoman Knudsen thanked Mr. Yotka for his explanation. She noted that she did not focus on everything, but only on the areas that were increased. Councilwoman Knudsen stated that she raised the issue because she does not want Ridgewood to raise its fees so high that people are deterred from getting the work done properly. She is sure that there is justification for the fee increases, and Councilwoman Knudsen was not referring to every fee, but was specifically referring to the items that were increased. Her concern is that making the fees cost-prohibitive could cause the Village more problems, especially with respect to the amnesty program Mr. Yotka proposed. Mr. Yotka understood Councilwoman Knudsen’s concerns, and he pointed out that there are costs associated with providing services and performing inspections. For example, there are usually a minimum of 2-3 electrical inspections performed depending upon the quality of the electrician involved. There are State-mandated minimums for electrical inspections.
Councilman Pucciarelli thanked Mr. Yotka for preparing this report, and noted that it demonstrated Mr. Yotka’s accuracy in his original representation that the fees charged in Ridgewood are consistent with those in other communities. Councilwoman Knudsen interjected that she made a very detailed list based on the information given by Mr. Yotka, and she was not suggesting anything other than her curiosity at seeing where the disparities were that Mr. Yotka referenced. She has great respect for Mr. Yotka’s work, and she appreciated the spreadsheet, and she did not appreciate Councilman Pucciarelli’s gratuitous swipe at her. Councilman Pucciarelli said it was not about her, and he thanked Mr. Yotka for the work he did.
Councilwoman Hauck also thanked Mr. Yotka for his efforts, and noted that it is a very exhaustive spreadsheet. She appreciated the time and effort that went into it. Councilwoman Hauck asked how many hours it took to put that together. Mr. Yotka answered that he did not know, but it was probably spread out over the course of a few days. Councilwoman Hauck stated that it is always good to have more data, and if it is helpful to others, she was glad to have it. Ms. Sonenfeld pointed out that it was merely a question of putting it into a format that was easily understood, because Mr. Yotka already had the necessary data.
This ordinance will be put on the agenda for the April 8, 2015 Public Meeting.
c. Operations:
1.) Building Department – Amnesty Program
Mr. Yotka explained that the Building Department is proposing a permit amnesty program with the ultimate goal of ensuring the safety of Ridgewood residents. It has come to their attention, through various means, that there is work going on in the Village for which property owners did not obtain the required permits, inspections, and certificates to close out the work. Therefore, Mr. Yotka proposes that over a four-month period, people will be allowed to obtain the necessary paperwork to get their inspections and certificates without any fear of administrative penalties and/or fines. It is strictly based on self-disclosure, because the Building Department has no intention of seeking violators, nor do they have the resources or manpower necessary to review files to ensure that the necessary paperwork was obtained. However, through discussions with Building Department staff and staff members of other departments, and real estate sales, several properties have been identified where work was done without the necessary permits. Mr. Yotka stressed that this is a strictly voluntary pilot program in which people can come forward and obtain the permits. All he is looking for is compliance, and to ensure the safety of Ridgewood residents. There would be no additional fee for this, and residents would only pay for the necessary permits. No additional staffing would be required. The proposed dates are April 20-August 21, 2015. The only caveat Mr. Yotka has is if this is initiated, these people should identify themselves as amnesty participants for statistical reference. This will determine If the program is effective, as well as to consider whether it should be extended for a longer period of time. Ms. Sonenfeld noted that this was discovered during a file cleanup, and it seems that there are hundreds of permits that were requested without being followed up. This is an effort to clean up the outstanding permits. It is possible that delays in the Building Department caused some people to proceed with the work without having the proper permits. Councilwoman Knudsen asked if the Building Department will be contacting those people with outstanding permits, and Mr. Yotka responded that, as previously mentioned, it would be strictly on a self-disclosure basis. Three people have already come to the Building Department, because they want to sell their homes, and wanted to know what the proper process is to close out the work that was not properly permitted.
Mayor Aronsohn commended Mr. Yotka for coming forward with this plan, because it is proactive and innovative. It also places an emphasis on safety, and that is the most important issue.
Councilman Sedon asked about the kind of work that did not have the necessary permits, and whether it covered a range of work, and if the work was minor or larger in scope. Mr. Yotka answered that the work in question covers a multitude of things, from decks to water heaters to interior renovations. It is of particular concern that heating appliances may have been installed without the proper permits and inspections, because they pose a serious threat, not only from their fuel sources, but due to the potential for wiring the system incorrectly, which could be catastrophic. Councilman Sedon asked if most of the discoveries came about through house sales, and the fact that the house was not in the same condition when sold as it was when it was originally purchased, which Mr. Yotka confirmed. He added that homebuyers are becoming more astute, and they do more research on the homes that they are considering purchasing, including what work has been done. They also compare their physical inspection to the public records on file, and when those records do not match, it raises a red flag. Councilman Sedon assumed that in the normal course of things, a person could come forward, pay for the necessary permits and inspections, and be done with the process. However, if someone does not come forward and tries to sell his/her house and gets caught during that process, would penalties be levied against that person, or could s/he still request to be part of the amnesty program. Mr. Yotka answered that he still believes that the ultimate goal is to achieve compliance with a minimum amount of regulation. The State allows the option to levy fines and penalties, which could be rather costly. Mr. Yotka does not believe that would serve someone well, and he has historically avoided such fines and penalties. His goal is to ensure the safety of the residents, and if that can be done by being more educational and explaining the necessity of the permits, his Department has done its job.
Councilwoman Knudsen believes it is a great idea to allow residents the opportunity to correct this type of situation, especially when someone wants to sell his/her house and is prevented from doing so by the lack of the necessary permits. As a practical matter, Councilwoman Knudsen wondered how a stove, oven, or cooktop would be inspected once the wall has been closed. She asked if the wall has to be re-opened to allow the inspection, and she wondered how Mr. Yotka would handle that situation. Mr. Yotka explained that mechanical equipment located in the basement is easy to inspect because it is visible. However, work that is not visible is more problematic. There is a provision in the Uniform Construction Code that states that no destructive inspections are allowed, so the homeowner cannot be forced to open a wall unless there is reason to believe that there is a safety issue. Electrical inspectors carry devices that in many cases allow them to simply pull an outlet out a bit to check the wiring, and they can push the outlet back in. Structurally, Mr. Yotka said it has been his experience that there are different ways of inspecting without causing destruction to the affected area.
Councilwoman Hauck stated that she hopes this is the beginning of a more trusting and positive relationship between Ridgewood residents and the Building Department. It is a good gesture on the part of the Building Department.
Councilman Pucciarelli said that normally, he would not advocate rewarding citizens for ignoring rules and regulations. However, due to the notorious inefficiency of the Building Department in the past, and the difficulty citizens have encountered in obtaining building permits, he understands how one could be tempted to proceed with the building and worry about the permit later. In a sense, Ridgewood has brought the problem on itself, and this amnesty serves a worthy purpose. Mr. Yotka noted that the program will be evaluated at the end of August to see if it was worthwhile, and to determine whether it should be continued.
Ms. Sonenfeld noted that this program must be publicized, and they are currently putting together a press release. Information will also be available on the Village website.
This will be put on the agenda for the April 8, 2015 Public Meeting.
2.) Building Department – Building Safety Month Presentation
Mr. Yotka pointed out that the month of May is Building Safety Month, which was designated by the International Code Council. Mr. Yotka will be asking the Councilmembers for a Proclamation to that effect. He also proposed inviting the public to a forum or symposium to be held in the month of May to explain what the Building Department does, and why they do it. They could also focus on the four themes of building safety, which include fire safety; the resiliency of buildings and the resiliency that is built into buildings to withstand disasters, particularly flooding; backyard safety; pool and deck safety; and energy conservation. Mr. Yotka is currently working on a presentation to cover those topics, as well as information to be distributed to the public about the presentations. In addition, the amnesty program will overlap Building Safety Month, and Mr. Yotka sees that as a natural tie-in.
Mayor Aronsohn commended Mr. Yotka for his initiative in this and other efforts he has made, such as the evening office hours, amnesty program, and technology upgrades. So much is being done to enhance the customer service orientation of the Building Department, and Mayor Aronsohn appreciates his efforts.
This will be put on the agenda for the April 8, 2015 Public Meeting.
7. MANAGER’S REPORT
Ms. Sonenfeld started her report by talking about the 2015 budget. There was a second budget review this past Sunday. The rest of the expenses were presented that day. Other issues were also discussed, including debt service, terminal leave, trust funds, and surplus. One of the interesting topics was how to look at the Parking Utility budget, and a more realistic budget was presented to the Village Council. The next budget meeting is scheduled for Monday, April 6th, in the Sydney V. Stoldt, Jr., Courtroom at Village Hall, at 5:00 P.M. The public is encouraged to come, and the focus will be on revenues, and some of the changes since the first budget review will be highlighted. Final budget options will be proposed. The official introduction of the budget is planned for April 22, 2015, with the final public hearing and adoption scheduled for May 27, 2015. All budget meetings and Village Council meetings are televised live on Cablevision channel 77, and FIOS channel 34. The videos are also available on-line.
Regarding Graydon Pool, the Board of Education recently published its proposed calendar for 2015-2016, and school is scheduled to start on Wednesday, September 2nd. That presents a challenge with respect to Graydon Pool and may cause restrictions on use of the pool due to the fact that the lifeguards go back to school, and the managers are teachers, and may not be available. No decisions have been made at this time, but Ms. Sonenfeld wants everyone to be aware of the situation.
Moving on to parking, Ms. Sonenfeld noted that the Chamber of Commerce has been working on getting data about how many CBD employees are parking in the parking lots. The forms are due back on March 27th, and it is hoped that by the April 1st meeting, there will be enough information to make a presentation. The contract with Parkmobile was signed yesterday. Implementation is anticipated within three months. One concern has always been the infrequent Ridgewood commuter, and Parkmobile suggested that the solution was to use the daily passes. After some discussion with representatives from Parkmobile, Ms. Sonenfeld believes that the daily passes will be made available to Ridgewood residents before the Parkmobile rollout.
The North Walnut Street Redevelopment Zone was discussed extensively at the March 4th Work Session meeting, when the developers made their presentations. Ms. Sonenfeld and Mr. Rogers will be meeting this Friday with representatives from a financial services firm that will be helping the Village to do some economic and financial analyses to help with future negotiations with the developers interested in the North Walnut Street Redevelopment Zone. The Village has requested that the developers pay for the financial analyses. In addition, during the Closed Session meeting tonight, the Councilmembers will be provided with information relating to some new financial aspects of the proposals for development being considered.
Mayor Aronsohn said he has received questions about what areas are be considered for parking. He clarified that at this time, the Village is exploring building its own garage, either on its own or in partnership with the BCIA, at the Hudson Street parking lot. That seems to be the best place to build a parking garage, because of its proximity to the train station and restaurants. In addition, the Village owns that property. The environmental analysis is moving forward, as is the discussion about whether to go with a conventional parking garage or an automated system. Mayor Aronsohn also had a chance to discuss the issue with James Tedesco, the Bergen County Executive, who let Mayor Aronsohn know that the County is still interested in this partnership, but they still have some issues to work out.
Mayor Aronsohn also addressed the North Walnut Street Redevelopment Zone, a property that has sat dormant and blighted for many years. The Village Council decided in 2007 or 2008 to build something at that location, with parking as a primary component. However, nothing came of that, and the property has been sitting there. Several years ago, the issue was revisited and a new Redevelopment Plan was proposed, with many discussions amongst the Village Council, as well as the Planning Board. The process has been moving forward, with a lot more to come. No decision has been made with respect to a developer, but Mayor Aronsohn pointed out that because it is a Redevelopment Zone, the Village has a lot of discretion in the process. It seems that if a conventional parking garage is put at that location, there will be a net increase of 100-135 parking spots. If an automated parking garage is erected there, the net gain increases dramatically. That must be explored, and Mayor Aronsohn stated that the process continues to move forward.
Councilman Pucciarelli pointed out that once a proposal has been decided on by the Village Council, it will be brought to the Village Council at an open meeting, and will be presented and discussed openly, with an opportunity for public comment.
Councilwoman Knudsen noted that while it is great to be in a public meeting, she wondered how information would be disseminated to make residents aware of the discussions that are taking place. Councilwoman Knudsen suggested that the situation is ideal for using other ways of advertising the information, because it is such a significant change to the CBD, and the Village should have as much community involvement in the process as possible. Mayor Aronsohn noted that he and Ms. Sonenfeld had been discussing that, and she came up with the idea of putting the background information on the Village website. They also discussed the possibility of having the developer chosen for the Redevelopment Zone do some public presentations and get input from residents on different aspects of their proposal. Ms. Sonenfeld reminded Mayor Aronsohn that there was also discussion about the fact that it will be very difficult for the Village to sustain the economics to build two parking garages on its own, while cleaning up the environmental issues that are known to exist in the North Walnut Street Redevelopment Zone. Mayor Aronsohn added that it was suggested that two garages be built, one at North Walnut Street, and the other at Hudson Street. Mayor Aronsohn felt that the Village should build one, and find someone else to pay for the other one, which would be better for the Village. In addition, it will be necessary to find a buyer for the Town Garage, which comprises a large part of the North Walnut Street Redevelopment Zone. Ms. Sonenfeld pointed out that, as mentioned earlier, one of the developers is trying to purchase the Town Garage. Mr. Rogers commented that the purchase is contingent upon the developer being chosen for the project. The final developer chosen for the project will be able to exercise an option to purchase the Town Garage.
Next, Ms. Sonenfeld moved on to discussing the Village’s fleet of vehicles. It is often said that the Village fleet is aged, decrepit, and obsolete. Ms. Sonenfeld wanted to find out if that was true, and she researched the issue. She discovered that there are still four vehicles from the 1980s, which have passed their life expectancy by 12-15 years. There are four vehicles from the early 1990s, which passed their life expectancy by 10-12 years. There are 24 vehicles from the late 1990s, which have outlived their usefulness by 8-11 years. There are 41 vehicles from the early 2000s, which are passing their life expectancy by 5-8 years. Finally, there are 39 vehicles from 2010-2015. That means that out of 151 vehicles, approximately 65%-75% of them should have been retired. When the capital budget is discussed, everyone will see that newer vehicles are being included, as well as maintenance plans for the vehicles, to alleviate some of the pressure on the Fleet Services Garage. Mayor Aronsohn asked if it would be possible to see which departments the vehicles belong to, and he asked if the information could be made available on the Village website, which Ms. Sonenfeld confirmed.
Ms. Sonenfeld noted that budget conversations are taking place throughout the County and State. The budget in Franklin Lakes came in with a 1.76% tax increase. They had an increase in their fund balance. Glen Rock is recommending a 1.6% tax increase to “maintain all services”. Approximately $2.5 million was allocated for capital projects. Residents of Mahwah are facing a 1.9% tax increase, which restores garbage to twice a week, among other things. Fair Lawn is showing a 1% tax increase. The Fair Lawn Promenade is generating a lot of revenue, which allows Fair Lawn’s tax increase to remain low. In Hackensack, there is a 3.99% tax increase, 2% of which is attributable to tax appeals.
In her “Response to Residents” section, Ms. Sonenfeld mentioned that there was a “Meet the Manager” event last night. One person showed up who is having a problem with a generator installation, and Ms. Sonenfeld is taking up this issue as an example throughout the Village of how things fall through the cracks among the various Village Departments.
Upcoming events include the College Club annual book sale at Somerville School on March 31st, April 1st, April 2nd, and April 4th. Village Hall will be closed on Friday, April 3rd, in observance of Good Friday. There will be no sanitation or recycling on that day. On Saturday, April 4th, the Chamber of Commerce will sponsor its annual Easter in the Park from 11:00 A.M.-2:00 P.M.
8. COUNCIL REPORTS
Historic Preservation Commission – Councilwoman Knudsen mentioned that the Historic Preservation Commission met on Thursday, March 12th, and they observed that Heidi’s Bakery is now closed. However, a young man has put in an application to the Historic Preservation Commission for his new business, currently called Long Tail Coffee, although Councilwoman Knudsen believes the name might be changing. It will be located at 47 East Ridgewood Avenue, and she is very enthusiastic about the new business. The next meeting is scheduled for April 9th.
Planning Board – Councilwoman Knudsen stated that the Planning Board met on Tuesday, March 17th, at Ridgewood High School. They began deliberations on the Master Plan amendment to the housing development projects downtown. There was a spirited discussion among the members and deliberations regarding the amendment request, and there seems to be a consensus that everyone would like to do something, but the question is what is in the best interests of Ridgewood. The next meeting, at which the deliberations will continue, is scheduled for Tuesday, April 7th, at Village Hall, and Councilwoman Knudsen encouraged everyone to check the Village website for the location.
Councilman Pucciarelli commented on the budget meetings, which have been much more efficient this year than those he attended in the past. He complimented all of the Village staff, who came out in full force to support their budgets. Everyone stayed throughout the entire meeting, not just for their own portions. In addition, the members of the Financial Advisory Committee were in attendance. He thanked Ms. Sonenfeld and her team for organizing the meetings.
CBD Forum – Councilman Pucciarelli noted that the CBD Forum was held last Wednesday. This was the fifth forum, and the subject matter was exclusively about parking. Many suggestions were made throughout the meeting, and everyone present was supportive of some of the interim steps that have been taken. There were many suggestions about building garages, including suggestions that a garage be built on the Cottage Place parking lot instead of in the Redevelopment Zone.
Public Library Board of Trustees– Councilman Pucciarelli stated that the Public Library Board of Trustees will meet tomorrow evening.
Ridgewood Arts Council – Councilman Pucciarelli mentioned that the Ridgewood Arts Council will also meet tomorrow evening.
Parks, Recreation, and Conservation (PRC) Board – Councilwoman Hauck commented that the Parks, Recreation, and Conservation (PRC) Board met last night, with a very full agenda. They discussed The Stable renovation, which is moving along in a timely manner. The work on the external part started at the end of January, and they plan to be finished in April. The internal finishing will be completed by June 1st. Six new bathroom stalls will be included, as well as a kitchen, meeting room, and several storage rooms. All of this work will be done in time for summer camp, which was the reason for the renovation. Councilwoman Hauck thanked the David Bolger Foundation for their generous donation, and she complemented the crew for their incredible work.
Graydon Pool is scheduled to open on June 6th, and Ms. Sonenfeld mentioned the issue about the pool closing, because Labor Day is late this year. Traditionally, the last week of summer is the highest revenue-generating week for Graydon Pool, and this will cause problems with that.
Upcoming events for the Department of Parks and Recreation include the Daffodil Festival/Earth Day, which will be on Sunday, April 19th. Councilwoman Hauck encouraged everyone to attend both events that day. The baseball parade is scheduled for April 18th, starting at the train station at 9:00 A.M., and will be at Veterans Field from 10:00 A.M.-2:00 P.M. LAX Day, an all-day festival, will be at Ridgewood High School on the field. Saylestock will be held on April 26th at the Kasschau Band Shell this year instead of at Memorial Park at Van Neste Square from 12:00 noon-7:00 P.M. Six bands will be giving free performances all day, and there will be a graffiti wall, a tricky tray, and plenty of food. There will also be a new event this year, called Goodlife Ridgewood Mayor’s Wellness Festival, on June 13th, to be held at Memorial Park at Van Neste Square. More information will be forthcoming.
Councilwoman Hauck announced that the Athletic Director at Ridgewood High School retired in February, and his position has been filled by Keith Cooke, who will be the Interim Athletic Director. The Board of Education is looking for two people to fill the vacancies, one of whom will be the Director of Wellness, and the other will be the Athletic Director.
Community Center Advisory Board – Councilwoman Hauck said that the Community Center Advisory Board met on March 19th and discussed work to be done over the summer. Facility upgrades should be done at that time, because there are very few senior citizen activities over the summer, other than some senior citizen exercise programs. The Community Center is used as a lightning detection shelter for all of the camps and summer programs in the surrounding fields, so it is difficult to run programs for senior citizens during the summer. The Community Center Advisory Board is also currently doing a needs assessment survey in order to receive grant money that can be applied to such things as transportation, to justify the things that are provided, and to ensure the services are not duplicated. Councilwoman Hauck pointed out that the handrails were installed in the ground floor, and they are not intrusive. Finally, the Community Center is forming the Volunteer Corps of Ridgewood, and the goal is to support the Village by connecting volunteers with non-profit and civic committees. The group will provide broad-based talent to assist the Department of Parks and Recreation, the Health Department, the Community Center, and Human Services.
Citizens Safety Advisory Committee (CSAC) – Councilman Sedon stated that the Citizens Safety Advisory Committee met last Thursday. One of the issues that they have been discussing for quite a long time is the issue of the sidewalks on Glen Avenue. They unanimously asked Councilman Sedon to bring this issue to the Village Council to see if there is any will to look at the situation. Mr. Rutishauser attended the meeting, and he indicated that he could do a study to see where sidewalks could be installed on Glen Avenue. It cannot be done this year in the capital budget, but it might be possible for the Engineering Department to take measurements throughout the year as time permits to see if sidewalks could be installed there. It could also be put on the agenda for a Village Council meeting for discussion to see how much time would be required to install sidewalks there, as well as the feasibility of doing that. It was suggested that the work be done in phases, and to see if grant money is available to help offset the costs. Mayor Aronsohn thinks it would be a great idea to explore the issue of sidewalks on Glen Avenue, and he remembered discussions about that when he served on the Citizens Safety Advisory Committee.
Regarding the Mayor’s Wellness Festival mentioned by Councilwoman Hauck, Mayor Aronsohn thinks it will be a great time. It is basically a health fair, but will be done in a fun way. There will be music and activities for children.
Mayor Aronsohn and Councilwoman Hauck attended the second annual Weight Loss Challenge kick off. Last year, approximately 270 people showed up and collectively lost more than 900 pounds. This year, approximately 300 people showed up, and it is hoped that more than 1,000 pounds will be lost.
Mayor Aronsohn commended Councilwoman Hauck for the many improvements she made in the Community Center, including the handrails. It has transformed that area, and many people have complimented the work that has been done.
Mayor Aronsohn echoed Councilwoman Knudsen’s assessment of the Planning Board meeting, saying that it was a very good conversation. There was agreement and disagreement, but it was good for the Planning Board members to engage each other and have a substantive discussion. He expects more of the same on April 7th.
Mayor Aronsohn also complimented Ms. Sonenfeld on the efficient budget process, which has also been much more effective.
Regarding the CBD Forum, Mayor Aronsohn stated that it was a wonderful discussion, which was all about parking. A lot of ideas went back and forth, and it was a healthy discussion, with many viewpoints exchanged.
The next civility roundtable discussion will be held on May 11th. Two issues will be discussed, one of which is youth sports and dispute resolution. The other subject to be discussed is the recent Mahwah Council meeting.
Mayor Aronsohn mentioned that approximately 25 Japanese students are visiting Ridgewood this week. He, Councilwoman Knudsen, and Councilman Pucciarelli attended a presentation at Ridgewood High School yesterday, and the Japanese students were treated to a traditional Thanksgiving dinner.
Finally, Mayor Aronsohn mentioned that Bergen County holds biannual access forums, and the next one is to be held in Ridgewood on Saturday, April 25th, in the Sydney V. Stoldt, Jr., Courtroom at Village Hall. Information is shared among Access Committees throughout Bergen County municipalities.
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.
Anne Loving, 342 South Irving Street, appreciated the questions raised by Councilwoman Knudsen about the increased construction code fees in the Building Department. Ms. Loving found the answers provided tonight to be extremely helpful. As far as the amount of time involved in providing the data, Ms. Loving considers that to be inconsequential and hardly worthy of comment, except to note that the new head of the Building Department is clearly doing his job very well. It seems obvious to Ms. Loving that the fees charged by neighboring municipalities would have to be researched in order to come up with increased or decreased fees in Ridgewood. The fact that the outcome of her request seems to be good and it looks like most of the proposed fees are in line with those charged by local towns should not in any way negate the need for assembling and providing such data. Ms. Loving reminded the Councilmembers that the members of the audience do not get to see the information packages provided to the Councilmembers, nor do the viewers who watch the meetings on television. Ms. Loving believes that to suggest so much work was put into this project, and the outcome was good, is similar to going to the doctor and finding out one is not sick, and being annoyed that time and money was spent in going to the doctor. She noted that Mayor Aronsohn uses the phrase “transparency in government” quite often, and this was a fine example of that. Increases in fees were suggested, some of which seemed large, and through transparency in government, the fees were justified. Another phrase that Mayor Aronsohn likes to use is “civility,” not just on the playing field, but in public meetings, and tonight there was a breach of that. Ms. Loving finds that unfortunate.
Boyd Loving, 342 South Irving Street, suggested that with respect to the amnesty program, information should be included to the effect that, while no penalties will be assessed under the program, if a property owner adds a new bathroom without a permit, that information could be passed on to the Tax Assessor’s office, and the property assessment may increase. That is not a penalty, but a consequence, and people need to realize that improvements often mean increased assessments.
With respect to transparency in government, Mr. Loving said he does not understand the agenda for the Closed Session meeting tonight. It was mentioned earlier that no developer has been selected for the North Walnut Street Redevelopment Zone, yet there is an item on the agenda for the Closed Session that says “contract negotiations”. Mr. Loving asked if the public can be told specifically why there will be a discussion on contract negotiations if there is no contract. Ms. Sonenfeld indicated that there would be some discussion about financial aspects. Mr. Loving was present when the two developers made their proposals, and nothing was mentioned about finances at that time. In fact, Councilwoman Hauck indicated that it would be discussed at a future date. Mr. Loving wondered if what is being discussed tonight fits the criteria of the Open Public Meetings Act. Mr. Rogers answered that he was advised that what will be discussed tonight is part of a financial presentation that one of the respondent developers made to the Village. Much of the information that respondents give when RFPs are issued have to do with nature of the development, the height of any structures, and other specifications provided in the RFP. A lot of that information also has to do with the financial commitments that the developer is willing to make to the Village in order to build a structure. One of the issues discussed tonight was the fact that two garages cannot be built by the Village, because it would be too costly. Therefore, each one of the respondents has stated their positions with respect to financial information, and that information is confidential to each one of the developers, and it must stay confidential in terms of how it is discussed with the Village, and in terms of the way the Village can negotiate. Divulging the developers’ financial information to each other would give a significant advantage to one developer over the other, as well as limiting the ability of a municipality to negotiate separately and distinctly with each of the potential developers. As the negotiations proceed, the Village will be better able to decide who would be the best developer, and once that determination is made, more disclosures will be made with respect to the financial position of that developer. Mr. Loving thanked Mr. Rogers for his explanation. He also asked Mr. Rogers why only one of the financial situations is being discussed. Mr. Rogers responded that he could not answer that question, except to say that new information was obtained from one of the presenters, which will be discussed tonight.
Regarding the automated parking system, Mr. Loving recalled that Councilwoman Hauck indicated that she would be frightened by the fact that she could not get her car of the parking facility. Mr. Loving finds the most frightening thing to be that the Village would consider removing a sidewalk from Hudson Street in order to construct a parking garage. He is amazed by that, because it is a very high traffic area, and removing the sidewalk there would be worse than the existing situation on Clinton Avenue with no sidewalks. Mr. Loving urged the Councilmembers to rethink the idea of removing a sidewalk from the Hudson Street area.
Finally, Mr. Loving said it was his perception that someone chuckled at the situation that occurred in Mahwah, and that person should take a long look in the mirror.
There were no other comments from the public at this time, and Mayor Aronsohn closed the time for public comments.
10. RESOLUTION TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION
The following resolution, numbered 15-93, to go into Closed Session, was read in full by the Village Clerk, as follows:
8. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the Village Council, on a motion by Councilwoman Hauck, seconded by Councilman Pucciarelli, and carried unanimously by voice vote, the meeting was adjourned at 11:27 P.M.
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Paul S. Aronsohn
Mayor
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Heather A. Mailander
Village Clerk
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