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, FEBRUARY 25, 2015, AT 7:30 P.M.
1. CALL TO ORDER – OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT – ROLL CALL – FLAG SALUTE – MOMENT OF SILENCE
Mayor Aronsohn called the meeting to order at 7:30 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, Sedon, and Mayor Aronsohn. Also present were Roberta Sonenfeld, Village Manager; Heather Mailander, Village Clerk; and Matthew Rogers, Village Attorney.
Mayor Aronsohn led those in attendance in the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag and the moment of silence in honor of the American men and women serving in our Armed Forces, as well as those who serve as first responders in Ridgewood and throughout the United States.
2. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
Mayor Aronsohn asked if anyone from the public wished to speak regarding any of the agenda items.
Diane Palacios, 342 North Van Dien Avenue, wanted to discuss something that she was reluctant to point out at the last Village Council meeting, because it is rather controversial. However, Ms. Palacios said she wanted to share her concern because other people share it. Ms. Palacios commented that her concern is that when a basic function like parking is made dependent upon cell phone technology, it sends a message to everyone, including growing children, that the technology is completely benign and safe. Adults usually understand how to use the technology, but Ms. Palacios has read many studies, including some of the most current ones available, in which some scientists state that non-ionizing radiation is emitted when the cell phone is simply held in one’s hand, making it unsafe. According to the latest study, people who use their cell phones more frequently are more prone to having such problems. That is Ms. Palacios’s main objection to parking meters that use cell phone technology, because as a senior citizen, she follows the studies about non-ionizing radiation. She has seen a similar pattern with other items that were considered safe, including margarines that eliminate trans-fats; overusing antibiotics; and smoking, which was not considered unsafe for many years. Ms. Palacios believes that if something seems to be the least bit dangerous, the Village should be cautious about applying it to a basic need, like parking. Many people do not have a choice when it comes to parking at public transportation venues.
Mayor Aronsohn explained to everyone that Ms. Palacios was referring to the fact that the Village is in the process of incorporating Parkmobile technology at the Route 17 park-and-ride lot. A presentation by Parkmobile is scheduled on the agenda for this evening.
Ms. Sonenfeld pointed out that the Village is not completely dependent on cell phones for parking, and there is going to be another alternative to coins available at the park-and-ride lot, which will be discussed later.
Susan Madison, 428 Linwood Avenue, stated that she also has some concerns about parking, and she emailed several of the Councilmembers about those concerns. Ms. Madison resides in Ridgewood, and has been a commuter for nearly 10 years. She has not complained about the many different policies and procedures that have been implemented regarding parking in the past, but this latest change that made most of the available parking spaces throughout the CBD, except those at the train, into three-hour spaces has had a direct impact on her ability to do her job. Ms. Madison goes to the city approximately once or twice a week, and now she cannot park at or near the train station. If she cannot find someone to take her to the train station, she must walk, which is extremely inconvenient, especially when the weather is very cold, as well as the fact that she is dressed in business attire when she goes to the city. Her other alternative is to drive to Ramsey and park in the park-and-ride lot on Route 17, which takes an additional 45 minutes. Ms. Madison understands that Village management is looking at many different alternatives, and the fact that those alternatives are still being discussed with no solution in sight for part-time commuters is unacceptable to her. The long-term solution might be different, but Ms. Madison insists that a near-term solution is what is needed now. Her second suggestion was that an advisory committee be formed for commuters, because they are an important part of Ridgewood, and many of them do not have time to be involved in the many different advisory committees in Ridgewood, because they are so busy commuting. Ms. Madison believes that the commuters’ voices need to be heard, especially with respect to the issues involving the train station, and the information needs to be conveyed to the Councilmembers in an organized way.
Mayor Aronsohn responded that the Village Council will be considering two alternatives, which will be discussed tonight. One of them is a day pass that Ridgewood commuters could use, as well as a possible solution being found at the Cottage Place parking lot. He emphasized that the focus of the parking policy has been to provide relief for Ridgewood residents. Ms. Madison said she does not understand why, as a Ridgewood resident, she must purchase a resident’s sticker, yet she is still limited to a specified amount of time that she can park. She believes that Ridgewood residents should not have any restrictions on the amount of time they are allowed to park in public parking spaces; they should be allowed to park at any meter and pay for 12 hours of parking. Mayor Aronsohn answered that the Councilmembers are trying to strike a balance between the needs of Ridgewood residents, whether they be commuters or other residents, and Ridgewood business owners and merchants. Two solutions will be discussed tonight, and Mayor Aronsohn hopes that an agreement can be reached on those solutions, and they can be implemented within the next few weeks. Ms. Madison responded that when the Village Council delays matters in the interest of getting more information, it delays her ability and others to do their jobs, which is a big issue for them. She also mentioned that in Glen Rock, there is a commuter bus that meets commuters at the train station and drops them off at various locations around the town. The commuter bus fee is $1 for Glen Rock residents who do not use it daily, and the cost of parking passes for residents are approximately $150 each. Ms. Madison said she understands that Ridgewood is not Glen Rock, but she believes that Ridgewood can certainly do better than the policy that is currently in place.
Gary Cirillo, 260 South Pleasant Avenue, commented that Project Pride will have its first meeting in 2015 soon. He invited anyone in Ridgewood who would like to join Project Pride to call The Stable, and his/her phone number will be passed along to one of the current volunteers, who can call back with more information. Mr. Cirillo noted that 2014 was one of the best years for Project Pride. This year, he noted that one of their goals is to eliminate the hanging baskets in the CBD and replace them with stationary baskets on each telephone pole, as is done in many other municipalities. Stationary baskets are much safer, because there is no swinging involved, and it is easier for the volunteers to water them. It will also reduce the number of baskets needed by 50%.
Next, Mr. Cirillo mentioned snow removal. He is aware that some residents have complained about packing the snow at the corners, and he suggested that the Councilmembers consider a “no school zone”. In those zones, the snow would not be packed at the corners. Packing the snow in this manner creates a very dangerous situation for children walking to and from school, even if homeowners try to clear the spots. Children climb on the piles of snow, which is extremely dangerous. Mr. Cirillo believes if these snow piles could be eliminated in the school zones, which also happen to be the zones that are used most by commuters, it would be a big help. He asked the Councilmembers to consider such a policy.
Finally, Mr. Cirillo said he watched the Village Council meeting last week, including the discussion regarding all of the additional monies that were stolen from the coin room. Like many homeowners, it made him furious. Mr. Cirillo said he worked for UPS for a while, and one of the first things UPS teaches its employees, and emphasizes throughout their careers, is what will happen to them if they steal from UPS. UPS lets its employees know that if they are caught stealing from the company, UPS will make very public examples of those employees. They created an atmosphere in which employees are not willing to try to steal. Mr. Cirillo commented that it is very effective, and nothing like that exists in Ridgewood. He reminded the Councilmembers that years ago, someone stole from the Parks Department, and took several pieces of the equipment home. Very little was done about that. In the current situation, Mr. Cirillo said what bothers him the most is that when all of the math is done, including the 21 tons of quarters that were stolen, it leads Mr. Cirillo to believe, as many others do, that it would have been impossible for one person to have done it all by himself. Moreover, when one considers that the parking meter fees were doubled; all of the parking spots were still filled, yet the revenues did not increase, it does not make sense. Mr. Cirillo thinks that the Village management’s inaction with respect to pursuing this matter more deeply is tantamount to covering it up. People from out of state are aware of the situation, and Mr. Cirillo finds it embarrassing. He thinks that an example should be made of Mr. Rica and anyone else who was involved in the thefts, and the Village should do whatever it takes to recover what was taken from the taxpayers of Ridgewood, and find out if anyone else is culpable.
Mayor Aronsohn thanked Mr. Cirillo for all of his work with Project Pride. He said he would leave the issues of snow removal and the coin theft to Ms. Sonenfeld, which would be done in the Manager’s Report. However, Mayor Aronsohn said that everyone seems to agree that further investigation is warranted, but the question is how it should be accomplished. Ms. Sonenfeld agreed that it is very difficult for her to believe that Mr. Rica acted on his own, and she would address other steps that are being taken in her report. Councilman Pucciarelli pointed out that the auditor’s report was, in effect, taking a look back, and it was conceivable that the Village might not have taken that step. However, it was done at the behest of the Village and the Village’s insurer. First, it is important to find out the scope of the crime, and the Councilmembers now realize that the loss is approximately twice what was originally thought. As Mayor Aronsohn has pointed out, the investigation is not over.
Mr. Cirillo noted that there are only two ways to get out of Village Hall, and that is one reason why it does not seem possible that such thefts could have been carried out on a daily basis by one person. Councilwoman Knudsen commented that Mr. Cirillo mentioned he was embarrassed, and Councilwoman Knudsen said she was not embarrassed, but disgusted and sickened by the whole situation. She continued by saying that she agrees with Mr. Cirillo, and with UPS, that the perpetrator should be held as an example, and repercussions should be taken to the fullest extent possible to ensure everyone else understands that these things are not tolerated. Every Ridgewood resident is a victim, including Mr. Cirillo and Councilwoman Knudsen.
Councilwoman Hauck thanked Mr. Cirillo for his civic participation, as well as his articulation. She noted that all of the things he does for Ridgewood often go unrecognized. Councilwoman Hauck also commented that she has been learning about packing the snow on the corners, and she suggested that the “no packing zones” could be extended to the CBD. Ms. Sonenfeld mentioned that such a policy already exists with respect to the CBD, and the Village workers do try to be sensitive to the schools. However, sometimes there is no place to put the snow. Finally, Councilwoman Hauck told Mr. Cirillo that everyone takes the coin thefts very seriously.
Councilman Sedon thanked Mr. Cirillo for his efforts with Project Pride in the CBD, and complimented him on how wonderful everything looked last year.
There were no other comments from the public at this time, and Mayor Aronsohn closed the time for public comment.
3. DISCUSSION
a. Parking:
1.) Purchase of Enclosed Canisters and Transport Carts for Parking Meter Coin Collection
Ms. Sonenfeld explained that this is a recommendation to award a sole-source purchase for the secure coin collection containers and the corresponding cart system. She reminded everyone that the Parking Committee met many times last year and listened to presentations from various vendors. After working through what they wanted to do with respect to the parking meters, they determined that they did not want to replace all of the meters with new meters or kiosks at this time. When they made this determination, they also determined that it would be necessary to purchase secure containers for the single-head meters in Ridgewood. This was discussed at the previous Village Council meeting, and it seemed to be supported by all of the Councilmembers. In an effort to make the purchase as soon as possible, it is hoped that action can be taken tonight to award this contract.
Councilman Sedon asked about the status of the plan to get the money from the meters directly into the bank, bypassing Village Hall. Ms. Sonenfeld responded that a proposal was received today from a new armored car company. The proposal would not obviate the need to stop at Village Hall, but the vehicle would come to Village Hall once a week on the day after the coins are removed from the meters to pick up the canisters, and then take them to the armored car company’s site, where they could be counted and conveyed to the bank from there. Ms. Sonenfeld has the proposal and the associated costs, but there are a few more issues to be reviewed with the vendor before she can present it to the Village Council.
Councilwoman Hauck mentioned that it does not look like this proposal addresses all of the parking meters. Ms. Sonenfeld responded that it will take care of approximately 80% of the single-head meters.
Councilwoman Knudsen pointed out that the quantity of canisters is cut off on the copy of the requisition given to the Councilmembers, and she wondered exactly how many canisters were being purchased. It was eventually discovered that the number should read 620.
4. MOTION TO SUSPEND WORK SESSION AND CONVENE SPECIAL PUBLIC MEETING
At 7:58 P.M., upon a motion by Councilwoman Hauck, seconded by Councilman Pucciarelli, and carried by unanimous voice vote, the Village Council suspended the Work Session.
5. MOTION TO RECONVENE WORK SESSION
At 8:01 P.M., upon a motion by Councilman Pucciarelli, seconded by Councilwoman Knudsen, 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.
6. PRESENTATION
a. Wayfinding Signs
Ms. Sonenfeld said that Paul Vagianos, owner of “It’s Greek to Me” would lead the discussion of the wayfinding signs. Mr. Vagianos reminded everyone that this was an on-going discussion, and he referenced a memorandum prepared by Christopher Rutishauser, Village Engineer, and Peter Affuso, Principal Engineering Aide. Mr. Vagianos stated that he and Mr. Affuso walked through the entire CBD on the east side of Ridgewood, and a map was prepared for the Councilmembers showing the existing posts that can be used, as well as spots indicating where the proposed posts are to be installed. Mr. Vagianos and Mr. Affuso counted the number of stores on each block, and were pleased to see that existing PSE&G poles could be used on many of the side streets because many of the blocks only had a few stores on them. The bottom line is they determined that with an investment from the Village of between $6,000-$9,000 to install footings (at approximately $1,500 each), wayfinding signs could be in on every corner on East Ridgewood Avenue. Mr. Vagianos believes that ultimately, five or six posts will need to be installed. On North Broad Street, nine signs have been sold. The post to be installed there could only hold eight. Mr. Vagianos reminded the Councilmembers that it was decided that only the number of signs that could be installed would be installed, and if the number of spaces available was less than the number of people who wanted to order them, the extra spaces would be available through a lottery. Therefore, one of the spaces for the North Broad Street sign would be eliminated, and would be sold via a lottery.
Mayor Aronsohn thanked Mr. Vagianos, Mr. Rutishauser, and Mr. Affuso for their work on this project. He also clarified that signs are available to all businesses in town, not just to those who are members of the Chamber of Commerce, although there is a difference in cost to members of the Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Vagianos said the difference in cost is relatively small, approximately $50-$60.
Mayor Aronsohn recalled that there was some discussion about a maintenance fee, and he asked about the status of that discussion. Mr. Vagianos answered that the Chamber of Commerce will charge a maintenance fee of approximately $60-$70 annually for each sign. As discussed with Ms. Sonenfeld, part of that fee is the administrative cost in maintaining the program, and the assumption of risk of loss of the signs by the Chamber of Commerce. For example, if the signs are knocked down in a storm, the Chamber of Commerce will replace the signs at no cost to the business owners. In addition, for every sign installed by the Village, the Chamber of Commerce will pay the Village $25 out of the maintenance fee for that sign. That includes signs that have already been installed, as well as those that will be installed.
Finally, Mayor Aronsohn asked about the engineering and public safety perspectives on the signs. Ms. Sonenfeld explained that the Engineering Department figured out the weight-bearing capacity of the poles. Mr. Rutishauser added that they examined the number of sign plates that each of the two types of poles could safely support. The existing streetlight poles that have globes on them are owned by PSE&G, and Mr. Rutishauser calculated the safest load would be approximately four signs. If and when the Village purchases the same types of poles without the globes, it was calculated that approximately eight signs could be accommodated, with four hanging on each side. Part of the reason for this was that PSE&G was very conservative in their load calculations, although Mr. Rutishauser believes that more plates could be supported after examining those poles. Mayor Aronsohn noted that concerns were expressed about the public safety issue with respect to where the signs are located and blocking pedestrians’ and drivers’ vision. Mr. Rutishauser commented that it does not seem to be a problem, and the signs will be kept approximately 84 inches off the sidewalk so that no one could reach up and grab the signs, and tall people will not bump their heads. Mr. Affuso also considered sight obstructions in the locations he visited with Mr. Vagianos, which is a two-part problem: they cause problems for motorists who are trying to navigate through traffic, yet the signs should be visible to the motorists, because that is their intended function. That issue has also been addressed.
Councilwoman Knudsen commented that in looking at the map, she did not see any signs proposed by Wilsey Square or on the other side, by West Ridgewood Avenue, and she wondered if there was a reason for that. Mr. Vagianos explained that there are no side streets in that area, and the signs are intended strictly for businesses located on side streets. Godwin Avenue and West Ridgewood Avenue are main streets, and the businesses along East Ridgewood Avenue are not eligible to purchase the signs, because that is not a side street. Mr. Vagianos noted that this could be investigated further if the Councilmembers wish to do that, although that was not the original intent of the program.
Councilman Pucciarelli mentioned that the number of signs seems to be good, and he asked if Mr. Vagianos had encountered any problems in selling the spaces. Mr. Vagianos responded that, as he stated to Ms. Sonenfeld, when he started this as a pilot program on Oak Street, some business owners were visited multiple times to try to get them to purchase the signs. Once the signs were installed on Oak Street, the rest of the signs sold much faster. In one afternoon spent visiting the businesses along South Broad Street, Mr. Vagianos sold approximately 9-10 signs within half an hour. Councilman Pucciarelli asked if the Chamber of Commerce would take responsibility for removing the signs for businesses that relocate, which Mr. Vagianos confirmed. He added that the Chamber of Commerce will work with the Signal Department to remove the signs when they are available to do so. Once all of the signs are installed, it is planned that only annual changes will be made. However, that policy can be changed as necessary.
Councilwoman Hauck said this seems to be a low-maintenance type of endeavor. She added that it gives a small-town feel to the CBD, and she expressed her gratitude to Mr. Vagianos for taking on the project. Councilwoman Hauck believes it will be good for real estate sales in the Village, as well as being good for business. She thanked Mr. Vagianos for all of his efforts in this project. Mr. Vagianos mentioned that Tom Hillmann was integral in putting this program together, as well as getting the materials for the signs.
Councilman Sedon commented that it makes sense to highlight the businesses on the side streets, and he agreed with Mr. Vagianos’ official thinking that when someone is walking down the main thoroughfare, offices on that street are visible, while those on the side streets are not. He thanked Mr. Vagianos for his efforts.
Councilwoman Knudsen asked if Mr. Vagianos knew the total number of signs that have been sold so far, and he answered that nine were sold on North Broad Street; nine were sold on South Broad Street; 11 were sold on Oak Street; and seven were sold on Chestnut Street, for a total of 36 signs. One of the businesses that purchased a sign is already gone. Councilwoman Knudsen asked if each one of those businesses will pay the $60-$70 maintenance fee. Mr. Vagianos responded that he wanted to make sure he was quoting the right figure, but he thinks it is something like $60-$70. Councilwoman Knudsen also asked for confirmation that the maintenance fee would be paid annually, which Mr. Vagianos confirmed.
Councilwoman Knudsen asked what was meant by losing a rack of signs, and Mr. Vagianos explained that the signs are made of die-cast metal, and in a storm, it is possible that they would be blown down, damaged, or broken. Ms. Sonenfeld noted that she would be very concerned if signs were to blow down, especially considering all of the work that will have been done by the Engineering Department to prepare for the signs, and which leads the Village Council to be comfortable in allowing the signs to be installed. Mr. Rutishauser commented that a wind load speed of approximately 90 miles per hour was considered as part of the public safety and engineering aspects of the signs, and he is confident that if the winds are less than 90 miles per hour, there should be no problem with the signs remaining attached to the posts. However, it must be noted that if wind gusts are higher than that, the signs could break. The other worst-case scenario is that if a motor vehicle strikes the pole on which the signs are hung, and the pole is knocked over, the signs will come down with the pole. Councilwoman Knudsen asked Mr. Rogers if a car skids on ice and crashes into one of the poles, who has liability. Mr. Rogers explained that the car insurance company would pay for that. Mr. Rutishauser noted that the police report will include the insurance information, and the Village will send the driver a bill for the repairs. Councilwoman Knudsen asked for confirmation that the Village has no liability in that situation. Mr. Rogers pointed out that Councilwoman Knudsen mentioned ice on the road, and every municipality and government entity has Title 59 immunity.
Ms. Sonenfeld said that this would be added to the discussion on the capital budget for Saturday, February 28th. Councilwoman Knudsen asked if concrete numbers would be available for that discussion, rather than a range of figures. Ms. Sonenfeld pointed out that the range given was due to the fact that it is dependent upon the number of poles to be installed. The cost is $1,500 per pole. Councilwoman Knudsen said she was talking about the maintenance fees and the sign costs, because if taxpayer funds are being expended to facilitate the installation of the signs, she thinks it is only fair that the costs associated with purchasing and maintaining the signs should also be known. Ms. Sonenfeld said that Mr. Vagianos could get those figures. Mr. Vagianos reminded everyone that the costs are higher for business owners who are not members of the Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Rutishauser offered to prepare a resolution memorializing the discussion tonight, and when Mr. Vagianos provides the cost information, it can be part of a resolution to be considered for the March 11, 2015 Public Meeting. Councilman Pucciarelli stated that if the Councilmembers agree on this, it could be pulled from the discussion on February 28th and acted upon sooner.
Mr. Vagianos also pointed out that the Chamber of Commerce is donating the posts to the Village, and the Village is installing them. He also asked when this might be approved, because he has received many requests for that information. Ms. Sonenfeld answered that this will be the last item on the agenda for the budget meeting, and if the Councilmembers get to it, a decision will be made. However, if there is not enough time to discuss it, it will be placed on an agenda for a future Work Session. Ms. Mailander pointed out that because it is a capital ordinance, it would not be adopted before April 2015, even if it were pulled out of the budget discussion. Mayor Aronsohn told Mr. Vagianos that the Councilmembers will have a better idea about this after the budget meeting on Saturday, and they would give him that information. Mr. Vagianos praised the Engineering Department, and said it was a pleasure working with them.
7. DISCUSSION
a. Parking:
1.) Parkmobile Presentation
Ms. Sonenfeld introduced Charles DeBow, Vice President of Sales for the Northeast Region at Parkmobile, who was the Village’s liaison during the discussions that were held. He was accompanied by Dennis Marco, the Business Development Consultant for Parkmobile.
Mr. DeBow thanked the Village Council for the opportunity to make this presentation. His goal was not to delve into all of the details about the where and how everything would be accomplished, because no one is sure yet where and how everything will happen. The Village is still in the process of implementing and changing its policies, and Mr. DeBow said that Parkmobile and would follow behind and support whatever actions are taken by the Village. He stated that his goal was to let everyone know who Parkmobile is and what they do, and affirm their role as a partner to the Village with the new parking policies. The Village has been holding discussions with Parkmobile since 2012. Mr. DeBow has been with Parkmobile for six months, and prior to that time, he was a municipal parking director, so he understands the difficulties faced by the Village.
Mr. DeBow explained that Parkmobile first developed and deployed their parking technology in Europe in 1999, where it started off as a simple cell phone payment method. Deployments in the United States began in 2009, and in 2012, Parkmobile achieved market leadership in parking technology around the world. Currently, in the United States, there are approximately 2.5 million users of Parkmobile technology, with approximately 1.8 million apps downloaded. Parkmobile has 600 locations in the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada, and they handle approximately 1.3 million transactions monthly. Mr. DeBow stated that their management team is very strong, with a very knowledgeable payment processing side, as well as an equally strong parking industry knowledge base. They have been very successful in meshing those two ideas together. In September, Parkmobile announced a large investment by BMW, so that BMW is now partnering with Parkmobile, in addition to Ford Motor Company, and they will start offering Parkmobile as an app in their vehicles. Because Parkmobile has a strong customer base in this area, it is beneficial to Ridgewood. Mr. DeBow showed some photos of the signage and stickers that will be in the parking lots and on the meters. He added that Parkmobile is also involved in some philanthropic marketing campaigns, in which they help collect money for certain charities by donating some of their transaction fees during a certain time period to particular charities. Mr. DeBow assured everyone that no matter what happens in the future regarding the building of parking garages and the technology that will accompany that, Parkmobile will be able to work with whatever technology is chosen. Transactions are monitored in their corporate offices in Atlanta during regular business hours, so that problems can be dealt with immediately. There is a 24/7 call center for client cities, as well as one for customers who are actually using the app. Parkmobile issues a monthly report to the client city showing all of the transactions that were conducted, so that where the money came from can always be determined.
In closing, Mr. DeBow commended the Village staff members who were involved in the discussions with him and his team. Coordinating and implementing a parking policy is never an easy job. Mr. DeBow noted that normally, he and his team enter the picture after the rules and practices have been determined, and it was interesting for him to be a part of the process almost from the beginning. Parkmobile is very eager to partner with Ridgewood, and Mr. DeBow said that the Village is making great strides in its implementation of new parking policies.
Councilman Pucciarelli thanked Mr. DeBow for his presentation, and he noted that there are still questions to be asked. Councilman Pucciarelli believes that using coins for parking meters is very outdated and inefficient, as well as being prone to theft, heavy, and prone to counting inaccuracies. Moreover, from the consumer’s point of view, it is a nuisance. He asked Mr. DeBow to give a walkthrough of the process involved in using Parkmobile. For example, Councilman Pucciarelli asked if it is necessary to register once the app is downloaded, and what happens when someone pulls into a parking space in Ridgewood and wishes to use Parkmobile. Mr. DeBow responded that the registration process takes approximately a minute. Users can go to their website, www.parkmobile.com, where they can register their credit cards and vehicles (up to five vehicles). It can also be done directly through the app. After that, it takes approximately 15 seconds to use the app, and involves three steps. The user opens the app; enters the zone number on the sticker that is on the meter; selects the vehicle, if more than one vehicle is registered on that account; selects the amount of time; and taps “Start”. Councilman Pucciarelli asked if the time can be extended, if necessary, from a remote location. Mr. DeBow answered that it can be done. He explained that approximately 15 minutes prior to the expiration of the parking time, a text message notification will be sent to the user (this is a default setting, although users can opt out of receiving such notifications, if they wish). If the amount of time needed is available, which means that the user has not exceeded the time limit already paid for, additional time can be purchased for that parking meter. Councilman Pucciarelli asked if the user exceeds the requested amount of time, will the Ridgewood Police Department be notified that someone has exceeded the time limit at a parking meter. Mr. DeBow answered that they would not be notified of that particular infraction. He added that Parkmobile provides the Ridgewood Police Department with a list of license plates that have paid for Parkmobile. Councilman Pucciarelli asked how an enforcement officer will issue a summons to a particular car in a particular space. Mayor Aronsohn interjected that the enforcement officer can either consult the list of license plates provided by Parkmobile, or when they are on patrol, they can see which meters have expired, and check those license plate numbers against the list provided by Parkmobile. Ms. Sonenfeld added that she and Mayor Aronsohn did a walkthrough of the process earlier today, and she also pointed out that it is not necessary for anyone to download the app, because it is also possible to call Parkmobile to make payments.
Mr. DeBow mentioned that he wanted to assure everyone about credit card security. Parkmobile is a Level I-certified, PCI-compliant company, which means that Visa comes to their corporate office annually to certify them for credit card security. Councilman Pucciarelli asked if anyone can use the app anywhere once they are registered. Mr. DeBow confirmed this to be the case. Ms. Sonenfeld noted that Parkmobile will be providing significant staff training and support, with employees from Parkmobile on-site for the first several weeks to help guide Village personnel and residents through the process, and answer any questions.
Councilwoman Knudsen noted that there is a transaction fee of $.35 every time the app is used, and that it would cost the user $.35 each time s/he pays for parking, or adds additional time to an existing parking spot. She commented that someone who is determined to steal something will usually find a way to do it, and she asked Mr. DeBow if there was ever any instance in the 10 years that Parkmobile has been doing business in the United States in which the integrity of the system was compromised. Mr. DeBow said there had been none. Councilwoman Knudsen asked if there had been any complaints from customers regarding unauthorized use of their accounts or credit cards. Mr. DeBow said that up to this time, there have been no data breaches. Councilwoman Knudsen reminded Mr. DeBow that he mentioned that there is 24/7 monitoring of the system, and she wondered if the Village would be given names and information to essentially track customers while they are using the system. Mr. DeBow responded that the Village would have license plate information, and would be able to see the last four digits of the credit card being used at certain times, depending on the level of access that is necessary. Councilwoman Knudsen rephrased the question to ask what data is being provided by Parkmobile to allow the Village to know the behavior patterns of customers using the system, and how that could help the Village. Mr. DeBow responded that there are several ways to use the data provided by Parkmobile. For example, in Washington, D.C., Mr. DeBow stated that they have what they call “heat zones”. Those are the areas in which demand for parking is very high. The management in Washington, D.C., looks at parking on a neighborhood-wide basis, rather than a city-wide basis. Mr. DeBow suggested that what might be helpful to the Village would be to examine the data regarding length of stay, which Mr. DeBow thinks is the most important number that can be extrapolated on an on-going basis; and the times during the day when demand is the highest, which will be available in the reports, including license plate number, date the parking fee was paid, and how long the user requested.
Councilwoman Knudsen asked if a user leaves the space with time remaining on the meter, for which the user has prepaid, the next user will not get the benefit of that time, as happens when users insert extra quarters into the meters to cover more than the expected length of time that they will need. Mr. DeBow confirmed this. However, if someone parks within the same zone with time remaining on his/her account, s/he could use those minutes toward a new parking space within that same zone on the same day, as long as the time has not expired. Ms. Sonenfeld explained that a zone is not a space, but could be used to represent the Cottage Place parking lot, or all of the street parking, or whatever zones are designated when the policy is implemented. Mr. DeBow explained that zones are determined by business practice, and any time there is a change in rate or duration, that would be considered a new zone. Finally, Councilwoman Knudsen asked what would happen if a user was unable to connect on-line. Mayor Aronsohn pointed out that the user could still make a telephone call to use the service.
Councilwoman Hauck asked Mr. DeBow if he would address the health concerns stated by Ms. Palacios earlier. Mr. DeBow answered that he is not an expert in that area.
Councilman Sedon noted that there is an item on the agenda regarding a discussion about employee parking, and he asked Mr. DeBow if repeat parking were allowed for a certain population, would those users be able to simply pay for more time after their prepaid time has expired. Mr. DeBow responded that they can.
Mayor Aronsohn said he is very excited about this new system. He expects it to be great for the Village in multiple ways. In the first place, it decreases reliance on quarters, although that will still be an option in most of the parking areas. It also alleviates the burden of collecting the quarters to some extent. Second, it will make it much easier to park. Mayor Aronsohn is glad to know that people from Parkmobile will be in Ridgewood during implementation of the new system to help guide Village staff and customers through the process, as well as to address issues that might arise. He also hopes to hold a public forum at some point after implementation of Parkmobile to answer any other questions. Businesses will be able to provide parking for their customers by paying for it. The metrics will also be useful, particularly when the time comes for the parking garages to be built.
Councilman Pucciarelli asked if time must be purchased in certain increments, or if the time period can be specified by the user. Mr. DeBow responded that the time increments will mirror whatever is available at the meters in that particular zone.
Councilwoman Knudsen asked if it is necessary to know the parking space number in order to use Parkmobile, which could be important for people who are getting on the train and want to pay for their parking while they are on the train. Mr. DeBow answered that the only information required is the zone number, as well as the license plate of the vehicle. The app will also have a map of the zones available in Ridgewood, which the user can select when making the payment. Ms. Sonenfeld added that there were opportunities to use technologies based on numbered parking spaces, and it was not considered, because for one thing, snow could obscure the parking space number.
Councilman Pucciarelli noted that, once this technology moves forward, it is feasible that Ridgewood could have a cash-free parking system. Mr. DeBow agreed, noting that other municipalities have saved millions of dollars because they no longer have to buy credit card readers or other equipment that is necessary for those municipalities to handle the payments on their own. Councilman Pucciarelli asked if there is no initial capital outlay required to be paid to Parkmobile, which Mr. DeBow confirmed.
Councilwoman Hauck asked once this is approved, how long it would be before implementation would be seen in Ridgewood. Ms. Sonenfeld answered that she has the contracts, and there is a minimum delay of four weeks. However, Ms. Sonenfeld believes that it will take closer to six weeks to implement it in Ridgewood. She thinks it will be sometime around the beginning of April.
Councilwoman Knudsen asked about the “heat zones” referred to earlier, and if such data could be space-specific. Mr. DeBow answered that it probably could not, because the system only uses the zones as the common denominator, and does not reference specific spaces.
2.) Part-Time Central Business District Employee and Part-Time Ridgewood Commuter Proposal
Ms. Sonenfeld mentioned that there have been many discussions about this, and many ideas were passed back and forth several weeks ago. It was decided to go back and review this again, and the question is how part-time employees and predominantly part-time Ridgewood resident commuters will be considered in the new parking policies. Mayor Aronsohn explained that, in discussing the parking policies, he realized that the impact would be greatest on two different populations in Ridgewood: part-time Ridgewood commuters and part-time CBD employees. In the course of those discussions and as a result of the CBD forums, another population was discovered, and that population includes the people who want to come to Ridgewood, park in the CBD, and get the “Ridgewood experience,” which often takes much longer than three hours. This is an effort to address all of those populations.
Ms. Sonenfeld noted that the first proposal is an unlimited parking proposal for the Cottage Place parking lot from 10:00 A.M.-6:00 P.M. That parking lot would allow unlimited parking for eight hours, and the rate would be $.75 per hour. Ms. Sonenfeld pointed out that the proposed rate would make it unwise for the user to avoid paying for the yearly pass. It addresses Ridgewood residents who want a longer experience in the CBD, or are infrequent commuters. It also addresses the part-time employees, as well as customers who want more of a “Ridgewood experience”. The payment method would be quarters or Parkmobile technology.
The second proposal goes back to a proposal mentioned by Councilman Sedon, which addresses the part-time CBD employees at the Cottage Place parking lot from 10:00 A.M.-6:00 P.M. This proposal would increase the number of hours on the meters from three to four with the ability to repeat park, although the rate would stay at $.50 per hour. There would also be a $15-$25 annual fee for a CBD employee sticker. This will allow the part-time CBD employees to repeat park at the Cottage Place parking lot. Other Ridgewood residents would enjoy the benefits of using the four-hour parking meters, but they would not be entitled to repeat parking. The payment method would be quarters or Parkmobile technology, although the Parkmobile technology could only be used once a day. Ms. Sonenfeld noted that with either of these proposals, Parkmobile could also be used to provide an all-day pass that would be made available to Ridgewood residents for $7 per day.
Councilman Pucciarelli pointed out that there are five differences in the proposals. The unlimited parking proposal is unlimited parking versus four hours; a cost of $.75 per hour for the unlimited parking versus $.50 per hour; no annual fee versus an annual fee of $15-$25 for the repeat parking proposal; and the unlimited parking proposal is open to residents, commuters, employees, and customers, which makes it the most desirable proposal as far as Councilman Pucciarelli is concerned, because he can see any one of those populations having such a need. The last distinction is no sticker is required for the unlimited parking proposal versus requiring one for the repeat parking proposal. Councilman Pucciarelli noted that this makes the Cottage Place parking lot a flexible lot for people who want to stay longer than the three hours available at street parking meters, while providing maximum flexibility, and allowing visitors to stay all day without paying any monthly fee or subscribing to anything.
Councilman Sedon noted that in the Parkmobile discussion earlier, the question was asked about whether unlimited repeat parking is available with that technology, and it was explained that it can be done. Ms. Sonenfeld noted that everyone using that lot could take advantage of repeat parking. Councilman Sedon pointed out that the Village could virtually “mark their tires,” or use a license plate reader to scan the license plates and issue summonses for anyone caught repeat parking. A sticker that can clearly be seen would help to eliminate that problem. As far as commuters are concerned, Councilman Sedon thinks the $7 daily pass would be more beneficial, because they can park closer to the train station, and the Cottage Place parking lot is the parking lot that is farthest from the train station, making it rather inconvenient. Councilman Sedon also stated that he cannot endorse raising the meter rate to $.75/hour, especially considering that it has been less than two months since the parking rates were doubled. That will have an impact on the businesses in the CBD, which has still not fully recovered from the recession, as well as the fact that they might be paying for some of their employees’ parking fees. It will also have an impact on the employees who are paying for their own parking. As far as the annual fee is concerned, Councilman Sedon believes the $.75/hour would eat that up pretty quickly, and would actually cost more for any part-time employee to park at that location three times a week or more.
Councilwoman Hauck said that when she attended the Chamber of Commerce meeting and heard the complaints from the CBD employees, it had a great impact on her. When she goes anywhere in the Village, Councilwoman Hauck stated that she is accosted by her friends and people who are accustomed to being able to park for 12 hours, and they no longer have anywhere to park. They also complained that the costs of the meters have gone up significantly, and it has caused them to be very upset. In addition, there are the commuters who are very upset. Councilwoman Hauck commented that three facets of the population need to be considered. One group is the shoppers, who are usually not heard from, and who will probably just turn their cars around and go elsewhere to shop, which will affect businesses and the health of the CBD. Therefore, as much as Councilwoman Hauck would like to give an entire parking lot over to employee parking, she does not believe it will work. She thinks it is important to keep the Cottage Place parking lot available for residents, employees, commuters, and customers, because she is not sure that the part-time employees will be willing to walk all the way to Cottage Place, because several have told her so. Even if the discount is given, the part-time employees would like to have parking available reasonably close to them. Therefore, in the interest of uniformity, Councilwoman Hauck believes that the first proposal is the one that should be implemented. Councilwoman Hauck would like to see the “Ridgewood experience” part of the puzzle implemented, which is four-hour parking for everyone. She also believes that many of the current issues will fall into place once the Parkmobile technology is implemented.
Councilwoman Knudsen asked how many spaces are available in the Cottage Place parking lot. Ms. Sonenfeld answered that there are 148 spaces there. Councilwoman Knudsen said she agreed with Councilman Sedon regarding the pricing, because she finds that part-time employees (and some full-time employees) are not paid exorbitant hourly rates, but are usually paid minimum wage. Every penny counts for them, and the Village should be sensitive to that. She asked how the four-hour scenario was devised, because she pointed out, anyone who works a four-hour shift would need 10 minutes before the shift starts, and 10 minutes when the shift is over, or 20 minutes on each side, in which to park their cars. One of the other discussions involved corporate stores, a number of which are located in the Village. The corporate stores dictate as part of their policies and procedures that no single employee can be left in the store at any given time, so if two employees are on duty at any time, they are prohibited by corporate policy under penalty of termination from leaving the store to feed the parking meters. Councilwoman Knudsen wondered if it would not serve the Village better to simply make the Cottage Place parking lot a six-hour parking lot, adding some flexibility to allowing people to come and go, as well as allowing employees to work their shifts, and perhaps some time to have the “Ridgewood experience” and do some additional shopping. It would also add some flexibility to the longer-term parking. Councilwoman Knudsen recalled that there was a discussion about studying how many people take advantage of repeat parking, and how many summonses would be issued for those who repeat park in the Village, which would give some information about how often that was occurring, and how big an issue it might be. Councilwoman Knudsen added that she did not understand the reason for increasing the price at the Cottage Place parking lot. She suggested that the Cottage Place parking lot be made a six-hour parking lot, and get rid of the annual fee for CBD employees. Councilwoman Knudsen said that sometimes she feels as if there is not enough information available to the Councilmembers about many vital statistics in the CBD, including how many retail outlets there are; how many employees are in those businesses; how many restaurants are in the CBD; the hours worked by the employees; and other important information. She wondered where the information being used in the parking policy came from.
Mayor Aronsohn commented that Councilwoman Knudsen’s point about the six-hour parking was well taken, and that is why the first option makes sense, because it makes the parking lot an eight-hour unlimited parking lot, recognizing the need for relief. The reason for raising the rate from $.50 an hour to $.75 an hour is to avoid overuse by out-of-town commuters who might try to bypass the system and park there, leading to the same problem that was encountered in the past. Mayor Aronsohn believes that allowing unlimited parking at the Cottage Place lot will provide some relief to employees, and is not discriminatory to Ridgewood residents. Mayor Aronsohn thinks that Ridgewood residents should have the same benefits that any Ridgewood employee has. By allowing unlimited parking at Cottage Place, it allows Ridgewood residents to make use of the Cottage Place parking lot, whether they use quarters or Parkmobile. It also allows commuters the option of using a day pass or simply parking in the Cottage Place parking lot and using quarters or Parkmobile. Mayor Aronsohn pointed out that only considering the needs of the employees is not fair to Ridgewood residents, and is also unfair to customers of the businesses in the CBD, who wish to have the “Ridgewood experience”. Councilwoman Knudsen is concerned that the first option would cause the Cottage Place parking lot to become the de facto “all day parking lot”. That is something that the Chamber of Commerce seemed to want to avoid, as stated in some of the earliest discussions Councilwoman Knudsen had about parking. Mayor Aronsohn pointed out that there is no perfect solution, and what the Chamber of Commerce discussed primarily concerned the parking lots at the west end of East Ridgewood Avenue, including the Hudson Street and Walnut Street parking lots. Mayor Aronsohn emphasized that there is a need to take care of the employees in the CBD, as well as the customers in the CBD, but first and foremost, the needs of Ridgewood residents must be considered. The first option seems to be fair no matter which way it is considered.
Ms. Sonenfeld commented that Councilwoman Knudsen’s concern about commuters taking up the Cottage Place parking lot is taken care of by the $.75 an hour, which equates to approximately $1,500 annually per parking space. Councilwoman Knudsen said she was not worried about commuters taking up the Cottage Place parking lot, but she was worried about the parking lot always being tied up. She pointed out that the employees in the CBD businesses are serving Ridgewood, and their needs should not be dismissed. Mayor Aronsohn said that is not true, and it was a balancing act to try to take the needs of everyone into consideration. It recognizes the relief that the part-time employees need, while also taking care of their customers, as well as Ridgewood residents. If this does not work out, it has to be revisited. Ms. Sonenfeld pointed out that when the Cottage Place parking lot was a 12-hour lot, it was not full. Approximately 60%-70% of the lot was used.
Councilman Pucciarelli pointed out that the first option also accommodates part-time employees who work eight-hour shifts, and might not want to purchase the monthly pass. What he likes most about the proposal is that it is very flexible. All of the populations that need to be considered can be accommodated in the Cottage Place parking lot.
Councilman Sedon said he does not understand how increasing the parking rates is beneficial, because it seems to him that it is gouging the employees and punishing them for working in Ridgewood. He does not believe it will help the CBD to raise the parking rates. Councilwoman Knudsen agreed.
Mayor Aronsohn said he would like to move forward with this, and he asked if a resolution could be drafted to be acted on at the next Public Meeting. He asked each of the Councilmembers to state which optionally preferred, A or B. Councilman Sedon said that he is not in favor of increasing the rates, so he could not support option A. Councilman Pucciarelli noted that keeping the rate at $.50 per hour would lead to the exact situation that the Councilmembers are trying to avoid, which is allowing out-of-town users to take over the parking lot. That is why it is important to increase the fee. Councilwoman Knudsen stated that she is unequivocally opposed to raising the rate, because she thinks that the $2 per day difference might be meaningful to some people. Councilwoman Hauck stated that, as she understands it, the reason for raising the rate in the Cottage Place parking lot is so that everyone will not start using that parking lot, because there are advantages to using the parking lot. Mayor Aronsohn noted that it was not intended to dissuade anyone, but to deter the non-Ridgewood resident commuter from using that parking lot on a regular basis. That relief is being directly provided to Ridgewood employees and residents, as well as people who shop in the CBD. Councilwoman Hauck stated that, after taking the proposals around to several shops in the CBD, the employees did not like the idea of being required to pay an annual fee. It seems to Councilwoman Hauck that there is no solution that has been presented that will please everyone. Councilman Sedon pointed out that 7-12 days of parking would equal the price of the annual sticker. Councilwoman Knudsen recalled that purchasing the annual sticker is for these CBD employee to take advantage of repeat parking. Councilman Sedon suggested that $10 could be charged for the sticker. Mayor Aronsohn commented that the repeat parking proposal only benefits employees, and the Councilmembers need to take care of Ridgewood residents as well. Any benefit or relief provided has to include Ridgewood residents. Option B does the opposite. Councilwoman Knudsen suggested that perhaps the parking lot could be split, and half could be maintained under option A, while the other half could be maintained using option B. In that way, the entire parking lot is not given over to full-time parking. Mayor Aronsohn stated that he could not support that, because it would give benefits to other groups before extending the same benefits to Ridgewood residents. He added that option A is fair to everyone, including Ridgewood residents. Councilman Pucciarelli stated that he does not believe that option A is perfect, but it is clearly the better option to him because it accommodates the needs of most people.
Ms. Sonenfeld stated that the suggestion made by Councilwoman Knudsen had been considered in the course of creating a policy, and it was found that it tends to make parking spaces less fungible. Councilwoman Knudsen noted that after reading through all of the documentation, she might change her mind to some extent, but she is adamantly opposed to increasing the rate. Ms. Sonenfeld also pointed out that although all of the metrics are not available, the one thing that is known is that the Parking Utility cannot show a deficit again, because that would have a direct impact on the taxpayers.
Mayor Aronsohn suggested that the Councilmembers move forward with option A, which is supported by the majority of the Councilmembers. Ms. Mailander noted that it will require changes to the ordinance, which take a while. It would be possible to have a Special Public Meeting next week to introduce an ordinance, and it could be adopted at the end of March. Mayor Aronsohn said he would like to go along with that plan. This will be put on the agenda for a Special Public Meeting to introduce ordinances at the March 4, 2015 Village Council meeting, and another Special Public Meeting to adopt the ordinances on March 25, 2015.
b. Budget:
1.) Removed from Agenda
2.) Award Contract – Pipe, Appurtenances, and Service Materials
Ms. Sonenfeld noted that this is the second year of a two-year contract for pipes and service materials for Ridgewood Water. The vendors are Waterworks Supply Company, Inc., and HD Waterworks Supply. This will be put on a resolution for the March 11, 2015 Public Meeting.
3.) Award Contract – Purchase of Chevy Tahoe
Ms. Sonenfeld explained that this is the award of contract to purchase a Chevy Tahoe for the Ridgewood Fire Department, which will be used to replace an older vehicle. This will make more effective use of vehicles. The funds for this are available in the 2014 capital budget. Councilman Pucciarelli asked if maintenance is included in the purchase of the vehicle. Fire Chief James Van Goor explained that the vehicle is under warranty. Councilwoman Hauck asked how long it takes to receive the vehicles once the resolution has been approved. Chief Van Goor responded that the money was approved in the 2014 capital budget, and once it is ordered, it will take approximately three months before it is received.
This will be put on a resolution for the March 11, 2015 Public Meeting.
4.) Award Contract – SCADA System
Ms. Sonenfeld noted that this is a change order for Keystone Engineering Group to perform additional computer programming work that addresses operation of the plant blowers at the Water Pollution Control Facility. These funds were previously budgeted and available in Ordinance #3170. This will be put on a resolution for the March 11, 2015 Public Meeting.
5.) Award Contract – Polymer for Water Pollution Control Facility
Ms. Sonenfeld commented that this is to award a contract to the George S. Coyne Chemical Company, Inc., for a sludge dewatering polymer for the Water Pollution Control Facility. This will be put on a resolution for the March 11, 2015 Public Meeting.
6.) Extraordinary Unspecifiable Service – Leaking Sanitary Force Main – Andover Pump Station
Ms. Sonenfeld stated that this is to award a contract for an extraordinary unspecifiable service. The leak caused a release of sewage on Hillcrest Road. This will be put on a resolution for the March 11, 2015 Public Meeting.
7.) Construction Code Fee Changes
Thomas Yotka, Director of the Building Department, explained that the New Jersey State Department of Community Affairs requires the Construction Official to review the fees in the Building Department at least every two years. Mr. Yotka said he does not know when the last review was done, but the last effective change to the ordinance was done more than five years ago. Since taking over the Building Department, Mr. Yotka noticed some deficiencies and omissions. He asked some Code officials in each discipline to review the fees under their control and report back to him. Some modifications were submitted, which Mr. Yotka compiled and formatted into the document presented to the Councilmembers. Some of it is fairly obvious with respect to increases in certain fees. As far as the building fees themselves are concerned, most of them were not changed. There are some changes in the plumbing, electrical, and fire fees. Ms. Sonenfeld added that the changes have been benchmarked with other municipalities. Mr. Yotka confirmed this, and pointed out that he also used the State document, because the State has its own set of fees. Mr. Yotka also relied on the expertise of Ridgewood sub-code officials, who are part time and work in other communities in addition to Ridgewood. This was an effort to modify the fees and bring them more in line with surrounding communities, and mirror what the State charges. Mayor Aronsohn thanked Mr. Yotka for taking this initiative and bringing the fees up to where they should be. He asked Mr. Yotka if there is anything in the documents that should be brought to the attention of the public, such as a fee that is dramatically increased. Mr. Yotka responded that it is fair to say that all of the fees have increased, because fees never decrease. However, there are no significant increases.
Councilwoman Hauck noted that the new demolition permit fees seemed to show a large increase. The fee went from $155 to $250, which she considered significant. Mr. Yotka responded that with respect to demolition work on a primary structure, the majority of the work is not the physical work to be done, but the administrative work. Many documents must be collected before a permit can be issued, and there is a lot of follow-up to that. Nearly all of that increase reflects an administrative charge.
Councilwoman Knudsen asked about the fire protection sub-code fees, which she noted showed an increase from $110 to $200 for fire pumps. Mr. Yotka explained that the fire protection fees are fairly unique in the Building Department, because although only one device may be installed, it is usually tested 2-3 times. A smoke detector in a commercial store or a single-family dwelling is usually tested twice, once with its initial power source, and then with its battery backup. The same thing applies to all other devices that are regulated by the fire sub-code. Fire pumps are tested many times before an approval is given, as well as standpipe and sprinkler systems. This requires a lot of effort on the part of the Fire Sub-code Official and his inspectors to grant this approval.
This ordinance will be put on the agenda for the March 11, 2015 Public Meeting.
8.) Interlocal Agreement – Mechanical Maintenance and Repairs – Paramus
Ms. Sonenfeld commented that this is a proposed Shared Services Agreement with the Borough of Paramus to provide fleet maintenance and repair services. This supports a general strategy alluded to earlier by Councilman Pucciarelli to try to minimize the number of repairs by having a newer fleet. The Village is starting to turn over vehicles more often, although there are still many that need to be replaced, which will be discussed during the budget discussions on February 28th. It also reflects the thought that perhaps more of the Fleet Garage repairs need to be outsourced, due to the fact that there will be several retirements in the Fleet Services Division this year. It was thought that perhaps the Village management could take a step back with the expected retirements and not rehire, but instead outsource some of the necessary repairs and maintenance. It will start with garbage trucks and police vehicles, although the number of maintenance visits on police vehicles has been reduced because most of the new vehicles have been purchased with maintenance agreements. This repair facility is owned by the Borough of Paramus, not Bergen County. In the past, discussions were held with the County, and more discussions may be held in the future.
Councilman Sedon asked how many employees are currently in the Fleet Garage. Ms. Sonenfeld answered that there are currently five or six, and two or three of them are retiring. Councilman Sedon clarified that they will not be replaced, and Ms. Sonenfeld explained that is the current plan. Councilman Sedon explained he is also concerned about an emergency situation that might occur, such as emergency road repairs or snowplowing that needs to be done during the night, and what would happen if one of those pieces of equipment broke down. Ms. Sonenfeld pointed out the one of the reasons for retaining a skeleton crew in Ridgewood is to take care of that type of situation. Any outsourcing agreement would have to address emergency situations, and what the response time would be.
Councilman Pucciarelli stated that he looked at the repair facility on Chestnut Street from two perspectives. One is that the building is very inefficient, and needs a lot of capital expenditure to remain standing. In addition, it is not a very modern or up-to-date repair facility. The second perspective is that the site is contributing to a certain amount of blight on Chestnut Street, which is close to the CBD, and is in a residential neighborhood. That area will not improve until the repair facility is no longer there. That is why Councilman Pucciarelli considers this to be a strategic issue, which Ms. Sonenfeld is attempting to address. There might always be a need in the Village for an emergency facility of some kind to accomplish these types of repairs, and the Village owns a property in Glen Rock where perhaps two bays of emergency facilities could be accommodated, instead of the very dilapidated and inefficient facility on Chestnut Street. This is another step toward replacing that facility, which is what will ultimately have to be done.
Mayor Aronsohn commended Ms. Sonenfeld for taking a thoughtful and strategic approach to this issue, while also being sensitive to the concerns raised by Councilman Sedon, as well as staffing concerns.
This resolution will be put on the agenda for the March 11, 2015 Public Meeting.
c. Operations:
1.) Streets and Sidewalks – Required Deposit & Maintenance Period
Ms. Sonenfeld explained that there are two parts to the required deposit and maintenance period for street repairs. The Village currently has a bond open for six months, and Ms. Sonenfeld believes that might be an insufficient amount of time because the backfill may not be satisfactorily compacted. Therefore, Mr. Rutishauser is recommending a maintenance period of one year for street opening permits, which will help keep Ridgewood streets in better condition. This also updates the means by which the security the Village holds for a street opening permit is calculated.
This ordinance will be put on the agenda for the March 11, 2015 Public Meeting.
8. MANAGER’S REPORT
Ms. Sonenfeld started her report by reminding everyone about the Public Work Session on the 2015 budget to be held on Saturday, February 28, 2015, from 9:00 A.M.-4:00 P.M. She mentioned that a lot of time has been spent, including evenings, putting together budget proposals. In addition, Ms. Sonenfeld said that strategies will also be addressed during the budget discussions. Line item details can be discussed, but the emphasis will be on bigger issues, including technology; human resources; and the Ridgewood “footprint”. Some of those discussions will be mixed with regular budget reviews. The budget reviews will have different cover sheets, which is a bit of an experiment. Ms. Sonenfeld said that 2014 accomplishments will be highlighted, and 2015 strategies will be proposed, and any other discussions that emanate from there. It is hoped that all of the items included on the agenda can be discussed that day. The public is invited to attend the meeting, and it will be televised.
Next, Ms. Sonenfeld mentioned that with respect to United Water, they have been doing what Ridgewood has done by implementing the radio meters. It has been reported that the project will take several years to complete. The meter replacement plan is doing very well in Ridgewood, with 94.4% completed. The remaining 5.6% will be completed in March. The actual readings are being received for 99.9% of the drive-by meters. Approximately 1,800 accounts received the first bills after the meter change last week, and inquiries are being received. The inquiries are approximately evenly split between those customers who received a credit and the other half who must make additional payments. Those who must make additional payments are offered a payment plan. Ms. Sonenfeld pointed out to everyone that of the nine area water providers, Ridgewood Water has the cheapest rates.
Regarding parking, Ms. Sonenfeld stated that a public forum on using Parkmobile is planned, and the people from Parkmobile will be invited back to answer questions. As Councilman Sedon asked earlier, Ms. Sonenfeld noted that a proposal was received regarding how to get the coins into the bank faster without any Village employee having the responsibility of counting them. Today, Ms. Sonenfeld and Mayor Aronsohn met with the Attorney General and the Bergen County Prosecutor to discuss options regarding opening an additional investigation into the quarter theft. The JIF board meets on March 4th, and it is anticipated that the payments to the Village will be in accordance with the numbers provided by Nisivoccia Associates, the forensic accountants used by the Joint Insurance Fund to investigate the coin theft.
At this time, the Village still has not heard from the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) on the incremental 40+ parking spots that are proposed to be added to the Route 17 Park-and-Ride. There is a fund that is built up by the Village, which requires permission from the NJDOT to use, which is to be used to create the new parking spots, so there will be no impact on Ridgewood taxpayers.
Discussions continue with the four finalists on the North Walnut Street Redevelopment Zone. A team meeting is scheduled for this Friday to determine which of those four developers will be presenting to the Village Council and the public, at the March 4th or March 11th Village Council meeting.
Residents are still required to bring their garbage cans to the curb for pickup by the Sanitation Department. This will continue for at least another week. Many driveways are still not clear of snow and ice, and it was pointed out to Ms. Sonenfeld that the Sanitation Department employees walk approximately 10 miles when doing pickups in rear yards. The weather is still very cold, so it was decided to continue the curbside pickups for the time being. Any changes to this policy will be announced via e-notice and the Village website, as well as the possibility of using SwiftReach with a recorded message to residents’ phones.
Last night there was a “Meet the Manager” event at Village Hall, although no one attended. It is hoped that the low attendance means that Village residents are happy. Ms. Sonenfeld pointed out the communication has been very strong. She also mentioned that Village staff members have received CPR training from Sergeant Pullman.
9. COUNCIL REPORTS
Planning Board – Councilwoman Knudsen stated that the Planning Board met on February 19th. The Planning Board and public had the opportunity to hear closing summations by attorneys representing applicants seeking an amendment to the Master Plan as it pertains to specific areas in the CBD. The Planning Board will begin its deliberations on March 17th, after receiving direction from the Planning Board attorney. The meeting is currently scheduled to be held at Ridgewood High School, which might be subject to change. Information will be on the Village website.
On Tuesday, March 3rd, the Planning Board will meet at Village Hall for its regularly scheduled meeting. The application before the Planning Board is the Church of God.
On Thursday, March 12th, the Historic Preservation Commission will hold its regular meeting in the Garden Room.
Last Wednesday, Councilwoman Knudsen, along with the other Councilmembers, had the opportunity to attend the League of Women Voters discussion workshop regarding the Open Public Meetings Act. The New Jersey Foundation for Open Government (NJFOG) made a presentation and answered questions. Councilwoman Knudsen said the evening was informative and helpful, and she thanked NJFOG, the League of Women Voters, Crystal Matsibekker, and Ellie Gruber for arranging this important event.
Today, Councilwoman Knudsen said she had a wonderful opportunity to spend the afternoon with Nancy Greene at the Ridgewood Public Library, where the discussion was about 21st-century technology and applying it to Village needs. Representatives from Microsoft Corporation gave tips on working with the Microsoft Surface Pro and Windows 8.1, and it made Councilwoman Knudsen realize how much she does not know about computers, and how this technology could be readily applied to the needs of the Village.
Councilman Pucciarelli mentioned that he also attended the session on the Open Public Meetings Act, and he found it very helpful to everyone present, because it dispelled a lot of the lore associated with public meetings, and cleared up many misconceptions.
Councilman Pucciarelli also had the privilege of speaking on behalf of the Village Council at the farewell ceremony for Peggy Norris, who retired from the Ridgewood Public Library after 22 years. Ms. Norris is the Village Historian, who has done wonderful things to keep everyone cognizant of the history of Ridgewood. He wished Ms. Norris well in her retirement.
Councilman Pucciarelli said he attended the civility session with Mayor Aronsohn that was held last night, and he would let Mayor Aronsohn talk about that.
Public Library Board of Trustees– Councilman Pucciarelli stated that the Public Library Board of Trustees and the Ridgewood Arts Council are scheduled to meet at the same time tomorrow evening, and he is the liaison to both of those groups. Councilwoman Knudsen has agreed to attend the Public Library Board of Trustees meeting for him, and he will attend the Ridgewood Arts Council meeting.
Ridgewood Arts Council – Councilman Pucciarelli mentioned that on Friday, February 20th, there was an interesting article about the Ridgewood Arts Council. The article included a call for art to be displayed in Village Hall, and there will be an article appearing on Friday, February 27th, regarding the Ridgewood Arts Foundation, which is their fundraising arm.
Community Center Advisory Board – Councilwoman Hauck said that the Community Center Advisory Board met on February 19th. They discussed a multitude of issues, including fundraising, as well as a proposed brochure. Photos were taken of the Board of Directors and Advisory Board. They are also starting a website, and believed are finalizing solicitation letters. One mailing is to a small, targeted group in September, and the other is a Village-wide mailing in November. Councilwoman Hauck commented that they will also be implementing semi-annual reports. A subcommittee was formed to plan a needs assessment survey for the senior population in Ridgewood, which is something that has been requested by numerous people. In addition, they plan to form focus groups to target 17 locations throughout the Village, with 20 questions on their planned study.
The Patrick Mancuso Senior Center is nearly finished. The living room area has carpeting, curtains, a TV with an Xbox, and piano. The members of the Community Center Advisory Board are still hoping to get two computers donated to this facility, as well as softer chairs. Tomorrow, a luncheon is to be held, and tickets are sold out. The lunch is free to anyone who registers for the workshop entitled “To Know Yourself Is to Love Yourself”. Two women from Ridgewood are going to discuss life mapping. The lunch will be held in the Youth Center, and the workshop will be held in the Senior Center.
Finally, Councilwoman Hauck mentioned that the Community Center Advisory Board is starting a volunteer corps. They hope to get young people who have just moved to the community and want to get involved to participate. It is a good way to get to know the community and feel comfortable with government.
Shade Tree Commission – Councilman Sedon mentioned that the Shade Tree Commission met last night, and a presentation was made by a group of Girl Scouts from Willard School. In order to earn their Bronze Award, they chose a project in which they will plant lace bark elm trees by the playground on Veterans Field in order to provide shade during the summer. Councilman Sedon invited them to make a presentation to the Village Council, because a resolution is required to allow them to plant the tree. They were well-prepared, even to the point of conducting a survey to see what was needed. They received a 66% response to their survey, which is very impressive.
Open Space Committee– Councilman Sedon mentioned that the Open Space Committee will be conducting a field use survey. Questions are being formulated now, and they are trying to figure out how to disseminate it to a large sample of Ridgewood residents.
Citizens Safety Advisory Committee (CSAC) – Councilman Sedon stated that and he was unable to attend the last Citizens Safety Advisory Committee meeting.
Ridgewood Green Team – Councilman Sedon said the Ridgewood Green Team will hold its first meeting in the Patrick Mancuso Senior Center at 7:30 P.M. tomorrow. They plan to meet every fourth Thursday of the month, and they are hoping to get Ridgewood certified through Sustainable Jersey to open up grant opportunities for green initiatives.
Planning Board – Mayor Aronsohn stated that, as previously mentioned by Councilwoman Knudsen, the Planning Board will be meeting on March 17th about the housing issue. He believes that the reason they will stay at Ridgewood High School is due to the fact that it facilitates the conversation to hold it there.
Regarding the meeting hosted by the League of Women Voters, Mayor Aronsohn commended them on the presentation that was made by NJFOG. It was very useful, and Mayor Aronsohn invited the Executive Director to come to the next Meet the Mayors meeting.
Mayor Aronsohn also had an opportunity to attend the League of Women Voters meeting last week, and they asked him many questions about various issues. He hopes they will invite him back.
The civility roundtable discussion that was held last night, as previously mentioned by Councilman Pucciarelli, was held at the Ridgewood Public Library. It included five community leaders, including Captain Jacqueline Luthcke, and was moderated by Rabbi David Fein. Approximately 100 people came to the meeting. The focus was more on the public policy angle of the civility issue, although there is a lot more to be discussed. The next Ridgewood roundtable on this issue will be held on Monday, March 9th, at 7:30 P.M., in the Patrick Mancuso Senior Center.
Ridgewood Access Committee – Mayor Aronsohn mentioned that the Access Committee has its monthly meeting tomorrow night, where they will be discussing many issues, including the fact that Ridgewood will be hosting the next Bergen County Access for All forum, to be held on Saturday, April 25th, at Village Hall. More information will be forthcoming, and other communities are being invited to attend.
The 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act is approaching on July 24th. The program will be held at Bergen Community College. Mayor Aronsohn stated that the planning for the annual Ridgewood Access Weekend to be held in October has begun. He anticipates a very good discussion tomorrow night about the changes in special-needs housing.
10. 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.
Jim Griffith, 159 South Irving Street, said he was so proud to be a part of the discussion on civility. It was not only a very diversified discussion, especially with respect to the people who were presenting, but the panelists and people hosting the discussion were also excellent. It made Mr. Griffith proud that such conversations were being held in Ridgewood.
Next, with respect to parking, Mr. Griffith asked if any additional news had come from the Bergen County Improvement Authority (BCIA) with respect to the proposed partnership. In addition, Mr. Griffith asked if any hint could be given about whether the Councilmembers are satisfied with the responses received from the four candidates for the North Walnut Street Development Zone. He wondered if any solutions were presented in any of their proposals.
Mayor Aronsohn said that with respect to the Redevelopment Zone, the answer is yes, because the proposals are very different, and the team members are trying to narrow them down. One of the requirements for any proposal was to create an additional 100 parking spaces in Ridgewood, which was the starting point. Some of the proposals included more than that. Most of the discussions with the bidders focused exclusively on parking.
With respect to the BCIA, Mayor Aronsohn said he heard from the Deputy Director late last week, who had a conversation with County Executive James Tedesco, and there have been discussions with different Commissioners. They said they would like to move forward, and would be contacting Mayor Aronsohn again within a couple of weeks to try to establish a policy. However, Mayor Aronsohn reminded everyone that the Village is moving forward on its own with its investigation into the possibility of building a new parking garage.
Councilman Pucciarelli noted that there were five panelists at the civility roundtable, who were all excellent. However, Councilman Pucciarelli thought the best presentation given from among the panelists was given by Captain Luthcke, who was so articulate and on point.
Diane Palacios, 342 North Van Dien Avenue, asked who owns the Route 17 Park-And-Ride. Ms. Sonenfeld said she believes it is NJDOT. Ms. Palacios asked if the Village has jurisdiction over the parking spaces. Ms. Sonenfeld explained that the Village has a contractual agreement to manage the lot. Ms. Palacios added that sometimes, when she goes to the Route 17 Park-And-Ride to catch the 5:20 P.M. bus to the city on a weekday, there is a regular space available, and the attendant will sell her a $3 ticket because it is close to 6:00 P.M. Ms. Palacios wondered if that service would still be available once the new spaces are installed. Ms. Sonenfeld pointed out that because the lot is not Ridgewood parking, she could not say. Ms. Palacios said she thought the entire lot was only to be used by people who have purchased the monthly Ridgewood Parking Pass (RPP), and Ms. Sonenfeld said that is not correct. People who purchase the RPPs park in the metered spaces, because they have the hangtags, and they do not need to use quarters. The 44 spots that will be added at the Park-And-Ride will not be metered spaces, but will only be available with Parkmobile.
Next, Ms. Palacios recalled that there were discussions last year about lead in the water in Ridgewood, and many parents were concerned about that. She pointed out that if they are so worried about lead in the water, there was a suggestion in one of the inserts in the 2014 calendar regarding using pesticides and herbicides on lawn, and their effects on water. Those inserts were not included in the 2015 calendar. Ms. Palacios believes that should be given more attention. Pesticides and herbicides go into the water, which causes the problem.
Boyd Loving, 342 South Irving Street, noted that the public was not provided a copy of the agenda for the Special Public Meeting, and it was not posted on the Village website. Ms. Mailander apologized, saying that it was an oversight on her part. Mr. Loving asked if it could be posted on-line, and Ms. Mailander said it would be posted.
Regarding the secure coin system, Mr. Loving wanted to clarify some comments made by Ms. Sonenfeld. First, he commended the Councilmembers for taking quick action following receipt of the auditor’s report. He noted that 80% of the meters will be covered by the purchase of the secure coin canisters, and that approximately 20% of the meters in the Village are dual-head meters, for which canisters cannot be purchased. He asked if Ms. Sonenfeld plans to do something else with respect to those meters, and if she could elaborate on what will be done. Ms. Sonenfeld responded that she is currently in discussion with the armored car company on that issue, and could not comment on it at this time because there is nothing final to share. Mr. Loving said he is pleased to see that another armored car company has been found, because it was reported in the media that the armored car company previously used would only pick up on a two-week schedule, which Mr. Loving could not understand. Ms. Sonenfeld pointed out that the Village does not pay the armored car company, but that they are paid by the bank used by the Village.
Regarding Parkmobile, Mr. Loving recalled that the Parkmobile representative stated that the Village would be receiving a lot of license plate data, and Mr. Loving assumed that there would be some sort of device carried by parking enforcement agents to scan the license plates. He wondered if that device would be provided by Parkmobile, or would the Village have to purchase those devices. Ms. Sonenfeld answered that the Village would be purchasing two of the handheld readers, and the data would be downloaded to those readers. Mayor Aronsohn asked if the handheld readers would be coordinated with the e-ticket system, which Ms. Sonenfeld said would eventually happen. At this time, she is discussing with Parkmobile the best device to be used which will work with Parkmobile’s technology. All of that equipment will be purchased from the Parking Utility budget. Mr. Loving asked for confirmation that the parking enforcement agents will not be walking around with papers with license plate numbers on them, which Ms. Sonenfeld confirmed.
Mr. Loving asked if the $.35 transaction fee is negotiable, and if that is what is paid wherever the user is when using Parkmobile. Ms. Sonenfeld said it is her understanding that $.35 is the standard rate in New Jersey. Janet Fricke, Assistant to the Village Manager, stated that she was told that some fees are lower than $.35, because the municipality wants the transaction fee to be lower and subsidizes it. The Village will have a two-year agreement with a two-year renewal, and the fee will be fixed. Ms. Fricke stated that she was told by the Parkmobile representative that he has never seen the fee increased.
Mr. Loving asked for clarification that it is possible that if the user goes to another municipality and uses Parkmobile, s/he could pay less than $.35 per transaction, if the municipality has agreed to pay a portion of the fee. However, Ridgewood has not agreed to pay any of the transaction fee, and the fee will be borne entirely by the user. Ms. Sonenfeld confirmed this, and added that there is a commitment from Parkmobile to keeping the fee of $.35 per transaction for two years. As the Village moves closer to building a parking garage, they will review all of the fees being paid. At that point, they may decide to continue in the same manner, or they may decide to do something else. Mr. Loving asked if the Councilmembers discussed this decision in public, in which it was decided that the users would pay all of the transaction fees, or how this decision was reached. Mayor Aronsohn recalled that it was presented as a recommendation, and it was accepted by the Councilmembers. Ms. Sonenfeld noted that it was included in the pricing, and therefore is in the ordinance. Mr. Loving said he did not recall any discussion about the fee, and Ms. Sonenfeld said that there was a discussion in which the transaction fee was presented. In fact, it was specifically mentioned that if someone takes advantage of repeat parking, the transaction fee would be paid twice. Mr. Loving stated that he did not recall any discussion about municipalities that elected to pay a portion of the fee, thereby reducing the fee paid by the users.
Mayor Aronsohn asked if Mr. Loving had an opinion about municipalities paying the fees. Mr. Loving responded that it appears that there is a tremendous amount of money being saved by the municipality in terms of capital funds, and because of that fact, Mr. Loving said it makes sense for the municipality to share some of the costs of the transaction fee so that the burden is not all on the user. Ms. Sonenfeld pointed out that the Village is paying all of the credit card transaction fees, but the fee structure could be re-evaluated.
Leonard Eisen, 762 Upper Boulevard, mentioned that this Saturday, February 28th, Super Science Saturday will be held at Ridgewood High School. It will be held from 9:00 A.M.-1:30 P.M. He encouraged everyone to attend, because it is a real treat, according to Mr. Eisen. He pointed out that the parking is also free.
There were no other comments from the public at this time, and Mayor Aronsohn closed the time for public comments.
11. RESOLUTION TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION
The following resolution, numbered 15-70, 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 Sedon, and carried unanimously by voice vote, the meeting was adjourned at 10:45 P.M.
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Paul S. Aronsohn
Mayor
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Heather A. Mailander
Village Clerk
