A REGULAR WORK SESSION OF THE VILLAGE COUNCIL OF THE VILLAGEOF RIDGEWOOD HELD IN THE SYDNEY V. STOLDT, JR., COURTROOM OF THE RIDGEWOOD VILLAGE HALL, 131 NORTH MAPLE AVENUE, RIDGEWOOD, NEW JERSEY, ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2014 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 7:35 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 asked for a moment of silence in honor of the American men and women serving in our Armed Forces, as well as those serving as first responders. Mayor Aronsohn asked for an additional moment of silence to recognize Firefighter Timothy Bombace, a member of the United States National Guard, whose unit was deployed last week. Mayor Aronsohn then read a statement issued by the New Jersey Firemen’s Benevolent Association Local 47 supporting their fellow Firefighter.
2. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
Mayor Aronsohn asked if anyone from the public wished to speak regarding any of the agenda items.
Maribeth Lane, 302 Woodside Avenue, gave an update on behalf of the Conservancy for Ridgewood Public Lands. Ms. Lane commented that behind the backstop at Veterans Field, the area around the little monument has been re-landscaped. Several members of the Conservancy took the initiative to remove the construction debris, and they planted the area with new soil and some perennials. A new bench has also been installed at Habernickel Park, which was a gift from a generous donor. The bench faces the bridge on the lower level near the home that is within the park. The area around it has been landscaped recently, and anyone is welcome to use the bench. In addition, 900 daylilies in assorted colors have been planted in the area between the Ridgewood Public Library and Village Hall. On Broad Street, six new dogwood trees, two crêpe myrtles, and approximately 45 flowering shrubs were planted. The Conservancy paid someone to weed and water in that area, and the comments have been very positive.
Ms. Lane reminded everyone that daffodil planting day will be held on Sunday, October 19, 2014, when 5,000 more daffodils will be planted in the CBD. There will be approximately 12,000 daffodils blooming in April in the CBD, when the Daffodil Festival is held. It will be held in Memorial Park at Van Neste Square, which will be receiving approximately 800 new bulbs.
Ms. Lane requested the Councilmembers to put in an irrigation system on Broad Street so that it will continue to look as good as it did this past year. Ms. Sonenfeld said that the irrigation issue will be considered, and added that there are also some irrigation problems at Memorial Park at Van Neste Square.
Before the next speaker, Jim Griffith, came to the podium, Councilman Pucciarelli mentioned that Mr. Griffith recently celebrated his 80th birthday, and congratulated Mr. Griffith on reaching such a milestone.
Jim Griffith, 159 South Irving Street, commented that some of the people who live on South Irving Street recently participated in a day of work for Habitat for Humanity in downtown Paterson. He added that if Roger Wiegand had lived, he would have been there, too.
Albert Ferro, an attorney in Ridgewood who has been practicing law in Ridgewood for approximately 46 years, stated that he recently sent an email to the Councilmembers regarding the parking problems in the Village. Mr. Ferro is also a property owner in Ridgewood. He believes the parking situation in Ridgewood has deteriorated dramatically in the past year, and particularly in the last few months. For example, this morning, Mr. Ferro said he arrived at the parking lot near the bus station at approximately 8:10 A.M., and no parking spots were available. He drove over to the Hudson Street parking lots, but no spots were available there, either. It was the same on Chestnut Street, and in the other parking lots around the CBD. Mr. Ferro said it is now impossible to park in the CBD, and it has become a daily problem. Mr. Ferro attributes the problem to commuters who park in those lots, because he reasoned that employees of the businesses in the CBD would not be arriving at work so early. Commuters have been parking in Ridgewood for many years, but Mr. Ferro noted that they used to park by the train station, or were dropped off and picked up by family members, so there was always parking available, with notable exceptions during holiday shopping times. There have been many parking studies done over the years, yet the parking situation has only worsened, despite all of the funds that have been spent on the various studies. Mr. Ferro realizes that nothing changes overnight, but he is concerned about what is happening in the CBD, especially concerning the merchants. He asked what is going to happen during the holiday shopping season, because commuters still have to go to work during that time, as do the employees of various businesses in the CBD. Many of the merchants in the CBD depend on the holiday season to help boost their annual sales.
Mr. Ferro believes this issue needs immediate attention, and he suggested in his email to the Councilmembers that the meters in the parking lots could be made five-hour or six-hour meters, or perhaps limit the number of meters available for such longer-term parking. As it stands, the parking seems to be weighted toward the commuters, and Mr. Ferro thinks that some consideration should be shown to the other people who shop in the CBD. His own employees have to arrive at work earlier and earlier in order to get parking spots. Mr. Ferro has purchased parking passes for his employees, but they still cannot find places to park. He noted that other short-term options have recently been discussed, including the possibility of erecting one or more parking garages in the CBD. Another possibility is to make Franklin Avenue and Ridgewood Avenue one way streets with diagonal parking available, which would greatly increase the number of available parking spaces. Mr. Ferro thinks that if something is not done to help the employees and shoppers in the CBD, Ridgewood will lose many of its businesses. He also pointed out that, with the recent discussion of the Ken Smith property as a possible location for employee parking at a suggested price of $80 per month, many employees in the CBD do not make a lot of money, and $80 might be a bit expensive. Mr. Ferro mentioned that this is something that is on the agenda for discussion tonight, and Mayor Aronsohn confirmed that the points raised by Mr. Ferro are points that will be discussed later this evening.
Tom Hillmann, Past President of the Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce and a business owner in Ridgewood, whose family has lived in Ridgewood for five generations, stated that the parking problem is not a new problem, but is one that has been passed down from generation to generation. He noted that there was a property that was condemned in 1972 and later rented as a parking lot to the Village, where it was said at the time that a parking garage would be built. Mr. Hillmann distributed some pictures that he took on Monday, September 15th, in the Chestnut Street lot at 9:05 A.M. He pointed out that normally, Monday is not a very busy day in the CBD, and 9:00 A.M. is approximately one hour before most of the merchants open for business. However, the pictures clearly show that the Chestnut Street lot was full. Pictures of the Walnut Street lot at 9:12 A.M. the same day also show the lot full. The same situation was found in the Hudson Street lot at 9:01 A.M., as well as at the bus station parking lot at 9:08 A.M. The train station parking lot was full at 8:56 A.M. That is why Mr. Hillmann is applauding the efforts of the Councilmembers to try to change the parking meters to three-hour meters. Mr. Hillmann also suggested that a short-term solution should be sought to the problem, because if no short-term solution is found, a long-term solution cannot be found. There will be no need for a parking structure, because the CBD will cease to exist. The parking situation in Ridgewood has reached an epidemic level, and cannot be put aside. Mr. Hillmann noted that many of the merchants in Ridgewood are one payroll away from losing their businesses. The holiday season is the biggest season for the majority of the merchants, and they have already suffered from road closings due to the construction at Garber Square. Mr. Hillmann said he does not understand what is going on with the Ken Smith property, and why all of the commuters would be allowed to park in the center of the Village, while employees of the businesses in the CBD would be forced to park on the outskirts of the Village. He believes the commuters should be allowed to park near the train station instead. Mr. Hillmann said he wanted the Councilmembers to understand how bad it has become, and if something is not done, the situation will go back to the way it was in 2007, with many businesses being boarded up.
Mayor Aronsohn thanked Mr. Hillmann for his input and the pictures he provided, and added that a proposal would be unveiled later tonight on a range of possible solutions to this problem. Mr. Hillmann responded that he hopes whatever is done could be done quickly. He recalled that, when he first became President of the Chamber of Commerce, it took approximately 3 years to get the 15-minute parking spots made available, which was 2½ years after they were approved.
There were no other comments from the public at this time, and Mayor Aronsohn closed the time for public comment.
3. PRESENTATIONS
a. Soles for Souls Program
Betty Wiest, 245 North Walnut Street, former Deputy Mayor of Ridgewood, and Mary Ann Copp, 247 Olivia Street, made this presentation. Ms. Wiest stated that the Ridgewood A.M. Rotary Club is embarking on a community service project in which they will try to collect 25,000 pairs of shoes. They chose that number because that is the approximate population of Ridgewood. Ms. Wiest noted that this is a very affluent area, and is a rather stark contrast to the millions of people worldwide, as well as here in the United States, who do not have shoes. This project will continue through the month of October. Ms. Wiest thanked Mayor Aronsohn and the Councilmembers for allowing her to make this presentation, but pointed out that more importantly, she was recently at the Recycling Center, where she saw a lot of cardboard being recycled. It occurred to her that the Recycling Center would be an ideal place for people to recycle their shoes. Arrangements have been made at the Recycling Center, and Ms. Wiest and Ms. Copp appealed to everyone in the Village to drop off any shoes that they do not need any more, which will help so many people around the world who need shoes so badly.
Ms. Copp reiterated that they are collecting used shoes, because so many people have shoes that are cluttering their closets, and this is a great opportunity to clean those shoes out of their closets. They will be sent to people living in areas where there is extreme poverty, and who need shoes. The lack of shoes is literally killing many people in poor countries. Students cannot attend school without shoes in many cases, and people cannot go to work without shoes. Furthermore, many people are too embarrassed to appear in public without shoes. Many foot diseases and infections are contracted by going barefoot, all of which can be prevented by simply providing at least one pair of shoes to each person. The Soles for Souls organization takes the used shoes that are donated, refurbishes them as necessary, and sends them to places like Haiti, South America, and Africa, as well as to victims of catastrophes, such as Hurricane Sandy, Hurricane Katrina, and the people affected by the California wildfires. Collection spots can be found in most of the houses of worship in Ridgewood, as well as in all of the schools, and the Recycling Center. Residents can just fill up a bag with any unneeded or unwanted shoes and take the bag to any of those places. The goal is to collect 25,000 pairs of shoes, which Ms. Copp and Ms. Wiest realize is a rather high goal, but they believe that the residents of Ridgewood will not disappoint them.
Councilwoman Knudsen asked if the Soles for Souls program is doing any advertising, and how will Ridgewood residents know that the program is still running. Ms. Wiest responded that their cause has been mentioned in the Ridgewood News twice, and is now appearing on cable TV as part of the Village Council meeting this evening. Ms. Wiest also contacted people at Bergen Community College to help spread information about this initiative, and much of the information is being spread by word of mouth. Ms. Wiest commented that this is a great community project.
Mayor Aronsohn pointed out that Ms. Wiest and Ms. Copp have also reached out to the interfaith community, which Ms. Wiest confirmed, adding that boxes have been placed in most of the houses of worship in Ridgewood, as well as in the schools; the YMCA; the New York Sports Club; and several other businesses in Ridgewood.
b. Lighting at Memorial Park at Van Neste Square
Paul Vagianos, 280 Rivera Court, owner of It’s Greek to Me, commended Ms. Wiest and Ms. Copp, as well as the Rotary Club, for being involved with the Soles for Souls program. However, he stated that he came to talk about the idea of putting lights up in Memorial Park at Van Neste Square. Mr. Vagianos introduced Philip Davis, owner of Kilwins, a confectionary store in Ridgewood across from Memorial Park at Van Neste Square, who believes that the park is underutilized, and noticed that when the park is busy, the stores are also busy. Recently, Tony Damiano, President of the Ridgewood Guild, provided a great example of what can be done at Memorial Park at Van Neste Square when the Jazz Feast was held there. Mr. Vagianos thinks that the park is not used to its fullest potential. One way to start doing that is to light the park at night and Mr. Vagianos believes it should be done in an attractive, tasteful way. It could also be seasonally-oriented. He and other members of the Chamber of Commerce met with Gary Cirillo and the rest of the Landscaping Committee, and Mr. Cirillo was very helpful in helping to come up with a very good plan for lighting the park. He suggested that floodlights could be put at the bases of all of the major trees in the park, with the beams going straight up, which would provide a nice effect in the park. The colors of the lights could be themed to coincide with holiday seasons, such as having red and green lights during the Christmas season, and other colors at other times of the year. Mr. Vagianos commented that everyone involved thinks this is a very worthwhile project, and it would enhance the park a great deal. The Landscaping Committee and Ms. Sonenfeld have endorsed this plan. Mr. Vagianos suggested that the project could be a joint venture with the Village, where the Chamber of Commerce could try to raise the money to purchase the equipment, and Mr. Cirillo suggested that he could work in conjunction with the Signal Department to help install the lights. It is hoped that the work could be completed by Thanksgiving, so that it can be implemented during the 2014 holiday season. Mr. Vagianos said he was only requesting the Councilmembers to acknowledge that it is a good idea, without authorizing any actual work to begin until more details, as well as costs, are known.
Councilman Sedon, speaking as the liaison to the Landscaping Committee, said they toured Memorial Park at Van Neste Square this morning. The park seems to be fairly open, and the members of the committee believe that if the park is lit properly, there should be no problems with people trying to do things they are not supposed to do. Mr. Vagianos indicated that he could probably raise the funds necessary for the project, and he believes the cost will be under $15,000. He also believes that the funds could be raised fairly quickly, and Councilman Sedon thinks that the project seems possible. He also noted that there are receptacles on the existing light poles in Memorial Park at Van Neste Square, which could be used for plugging in the lights, and the cords could be buried. It is hoped this will make the park more attractive to people when they come to the CBD, because the park is the only one located in the center of Ridgewood. Ms. Sonenfeld indicated that she endorses the idea, although the details have to be worked out. She believes it is worth pursuing.
Councilman Pucciarelli noted that the focus of the next CBD forum will be on the role of art and entertainment, as well as historic preservation within the CBD. That is why he believes that Memorial Park at Van Neste Square is an excellent venue for the display and performance of art, which was evident during the Jazz Festival. It is also a place where people can gather, and the lights would only enhance its usefulness. He invited Mr. Vagianos to come to the next forum on October 29th to present this proposal.
Councilwoman Knudsen said she loves this idea. She noted how dark it is in the park when she was there the other night, and she thinks that enhancing it by using seasonal colors would make it more inviting. She asked Mr. Vagianos to put his proposal together and come back to the Councilmembers with more details.
Mayor Aronsohn pointed out that the next step would be to work with Ms. Sonenfeld to iron out the details. Mr. Vagianos stated that there is a lot of work to be done, and all that was requested for tonight was approval from the Councilmembers that this proposal is feasible, which he has received.
4. DISCUSSION
a. Budget:
1.) Award Contract – Pickup, Removal, and Hauling of Leaves
Ms. Sonenfeld noted that this award is based on discussions held with those who deal with leaf removal in the Village. Frank Moritz, Director of Operations, explained the goal of these discussions was to provide a better service for the same amount of money. The previous methods, equipment, and manpower used for picking up and removing leaves were evaluated. The shortcomings in that process were identified, and most of the complaints seem to be regarding the condition of the streets after the first three passes through the Village. Usually, four passes are made, and after the fourth pass, the street sweepers come through. Two crews are used in this process, and the Village is divided into four sections (A, B, C, and D). Outsourcing one of the sections was also discussed, due to the fact that the Village has eight trucks available, and four loaders. The crew is divided into two smaller crews, so each set of loaders was serviced by four trucks. The trucks are not all the same size, but the loaders are the same size, and they have a much bigger capacity than some of the trucks. That meant that many times, the loaders were waiting for the trucks to go to the Recycling Center to dump leaves and come back. In addition, the loaders do not have the capability to pick up the leaves that are left on the curbs. That made it necessary to have men with rakes and blowers to move the leaves off the curbs into the streets so they could be picked up. One of the best ways to improve the service was to bring the rakers back, which also necessitated identifying the condition in which the streets should be left.
The possibility of outsourcing Section B to an outside contractor, which would allow the composition of the crews to be changed, was considered. The number of people on a crew would not change, but the setup of the crew would be. In a normal set up, the street sweepers would go out in the morning to push the leaves into piles. They would usually be finished by 1:00-2:00 P.M., at which time the equipment would be serviced and put away. Changing the crew set up would mean that only one sweeper would be used, with one set of loaders, and eight trucks. The loaders would constantly be loading, and the trucks would continuously make round trips to and from the Recycling Center. Mr. Moritz asked the Councilmembers to bear in mind that when the crews are working on the other side of Route 17, the round trips to and from the Recycling Center are much longer. That makes having the additional trucks much more important. By introducing the rakers, it is hoped that they can push the leaves into the streets and keep the curbs clean as the loaders and trucks move down the streets. After the pickups are complete, the other loader will be re-introduced to follow the cleanup crew, which will clean the street every time a pass is made. Mr. Moritz also pointed out that there would be some savings realized because it would not be necessary to work on Saturdays, as well as some savings in weekday overtime. The total savings from those two items is approximately $20,000. In addition, by taking two loaders out of service, there would be an additional savings of approximately $24,000 in fuel and maintenance. There is also the cost avoidance to be considered, in the amount of $26,000, because additional rakers would not have to be hired. This will produce a product that should be satisfactory to all residents. The total savings, when weighed against the $65,000 it will cost to outsource Section B (the section with the most leaves), would net a total savings of $5,000. That is why an RFP was put out for outsourcing Section B. Mr. Moritz explained that the contractor would be required to leave the streets as Mr. Moritz has described, and the contractor will make his passes in time with the schedule that was outlined.
Ms. Sonenfeld stated that one bid was received from Downes Tree Service, in the amount of $65,000. She pointed out the cost offsets explained by Mr. Moritz. In addition, Ms. Sonenfeld noted that approximately 80% of the complaints received are due to leaves being left behind on the streets. She emphasized that this is a pilot program, and if it works very well, perhaps it could be expanded for 2015.
Mayor Aronsohn commended Mr. Moritz and Ms. Sonenfeld for putting this together, stating that it addresses a real need in the Village. It was a good idea to engage everyone in the process. Councilman Pucciarelli agreed that it is important to try the outsourcing in a limited way, because this is a function performed by the Village that is very capital-intensive and labor-intensive, yet it is only done for approximately two months. Councilman Sedon said he is happy to see that the Village is trying something different, because it seemed that for so many years, the services were whittled down and slowly worsening, and nothing different was attempted. He thinks this is a great experiment, and hopes that it will work out. Councilwoman Knudsen thinks this is a great opportunity for outsourcing.
Ms. Sonenfeld and Mr. Moritz pointed out that the information will have to be disseminated to residents, because there will be a calendar change. An electronic sign will be put up, similar to the one used by the Police Department, prior to entering any area to notify residents of that area that they have seven days to put their leaves out. The information will also be put on the Village website, as well as being emailed to residents.
The Village Council agreed to put this resolution to award the contract to outsource the leaf pickup in Section B on the agenda for the October 8, 2014 Public Meeting.
2.) Award Contract – Jeep Patriot and Ford Utility Police Interceptor for the Water Department
Ms. Sonenfeld pointed out that this contract is to purchase a Jeep Patriot and Ford Utility Police Interceptor for Ridgewood Water. The funds for this are in the capital budget. The reason that a Police Interceptor is being ordered for the Water Utility is due to the fact that it is approximately $2,000 cheaper to purchase the Police Interceptor, as opposed to the regular vehicle.
The Village Council agreed to put this resolution on the agenda for the October 8, 2014 Public Meeting.
3.) Authorize NJDOT Grant Application – Morningside Road
Ms. Sonenfeld explained that this would allow the Engineering Department to make its annual New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) Municipal Aid Grant application. The street chosen is Morningside Road, which meets the criteria for the grant. Councilman Sedon asked if there any bike lanes or major changes involved in this resurfacing project. Ms. Sonenfeld said she does not believe so.
The Village Council agreed to put this resolution on the agenda for the October 8, 2014 Public Meeting.
4.) Award Contract – Survey Work for 224 Highwood Avenue
Ms. Sonenfeld commented that this relates to rectifying the situation involving the Green Acres diversion that was discussed at the previous Village Council meeting. She reminded everyone that a property was inadvertently sold that was part of the Green Acres program, and the situation has to be remedied. This award is a contract for survey work to Daniel Dunn, who will be surveying a piece of property on Highwood Avenue, near the Religious Society of Friends. This is a preliminary step in the possibility of buying a piece of land from them to turn into a park between Broad Street and Highwood Avenue. Councilman Sedon asked if money is available for the survey work, or if this is an extraordinary unspecifiable service. Ms. Sonenfeld replied that money is available.
The Village Council agreed to put this resolution on the agenda for the October 8, 2014 Public Meeting.
5.) Authorize Bergen County Road Resurfacing ADA Ramp Grant Application
Ms. Sonenfeld explained that this authorizes the Village to be part of the County ramp program with respect to ADA-compliant ramps. It will enable the Village to get grants for those ramps. In particular, the County is considering paving part of East Glen Avenue, and the Village must install at least 10 ADA-compliant ramps.
The Village Council agreed to put this resolution on the agenda for the October 8, 2014 Public Meeting.
6.) Award Contract – Servicing & Repair of Potable Water Pumping Facilities
Ms. Sonenfeld explained that five bid proposals were picked up, and four bids were received for the servicing and repair of potable water pumping facilities, including wells, pumps, and motors. The award is a two-year award, and the lowest bidder is being recommended.
The Village Council agreed to put this resolution on the agenda for the October 8, 2014 Public Meeting.
7.) Award Contract – Inspection of Concrete Tanks
Ms. Sonenfeld commented that this contract is for the inspection of concrete tanks. Eight bid packets were picked up, but only one proposal was received, from DN Tanks. Mr. Moritz noted that many of the firms that picked up bid packets were engineering firms that could not do this kind of work, and did not have the necessary expertise.
The Village Council agreed to put this resolution on the agenda for the October 8, 2014 Public Meeting.
8.) Award Contract – Inspection of Steel Tanks
Ms. Sonenfeld noted that the contract for the inspection of steel tanks is being recommended to go to T & M Associates. Although they were not the lowest bidder, they included everything required in the bid specifications in their proposal.
Ms. Sonenfeld pointed out that the funds for this project, as well as for the inspection of concrete tanks, is available in the Water Utility Capital Budget.
The Village Council agreed to put this resolution on the agenda for the October 8, 2014 Public Meeting.
9.) Award Contract – Bulletproof Vests
Ms. Sonenfeld explained that this contract is for the purchase of bulletproof vests for the Police Department. Each officer wears his/her vest for 8-12 hours per day. This purchase will be for new vests for new officers, or replacement vests for officers who have vests that are more than five years old. Some of the funds come from grant monies, and the rest come from the capital account.
The Village Council agreed to put this resolution on the agenda for the October 8, 2014 Public Meeting.
b. Policy:
1.) Shade Tree Ordinance Discussion
Ms. Sonenfeld noted that this is the beginning of a discussion on an ordinance on the planting of replacement trees. Councilman Sedon introduced George Wolfson, Chairman of the Shade Tree Commission, who presented some of the suggestions of the Commission. Nothing has been set in stone; however, Councilman Sedon said that these are issues that need to be addressed, and this was the best way to start the conversation. It would also be helpful to get a sense of the Village Council’s direction on this subject, in order to save a lot of time.
Mr. Wolfson read a policy paper put together by the Shade Tree Commission several weeks ago. As a Commission, the members receive many requests for replacement trees. The request cannot be filled due to a catch-22 in the existing replacement program. The problem has nothing to do with money or manpower, but everything to do with the fact that there is no place to plant trees. For a number of years, a policy was implemented by a former Village Manager which did not allow the planting of trees in Village rights-of-way in front of homeowners’ properties. It is the understanding of the members of the Shade Tree Commission that this policy was never part of a public debate or a Village Council resolution. However, with that policy directed to the Shade Tree Commission, and with no alternative in place, no trees can be planted between the sidewalks and the curbs along Village roads (which will hereinafter be called “grassy areas” or “medians”). Mr. Wolfson stated that resolution of this issue is needed so the Shade Tree Commission can start its task in the Village. There are two options that are clear. One is to reinstate planting in the grassy areas; or to plant in a landscape zone, 5-10 feet from the sidewalk edge on private property with homeowner permission. Each of those options has its benefits and its complications. The members of the Shade Tree Commission believe that the best solution for the Village would be the immediate restoration of the grassy area planting program. The Commission recognizes that there are budgetary and liability issues involved with costs for planting, maintaining, and insuring trees on Village property. They believe the previous depiction of costs of trees in the median is overblown, especially since any program would be done over a long period of time due to limited funding. This will require the use of tax revenues, as well as finding new sources of funding, a task that has been given to the Shade Tree Commission. Those sources of funding could be grants from the State, corporate grants, donations, or anything that could bring revenue for planting trees. This would be necessary in order to see any trees planted in Ridgewood.
Mr. Wolfson noted that when he discusses the possibility of the Village getting involved in median planting, a lot of concern was expressed that too much money will be spent on trees. That is not the case. New programs could be implemented to help alleviate some of those costs, and these programs are being done on a regular basis in other municipalities. For example, Mr. Wolfson stated that an Adopt-a-Tree program could be initiated for planting in the medians. Another possibility is to implement a 50/50 share program. Donations could be sought. Neighborhood incentive programs could also be considered.
Mr. Wolfson explained that in River Edge, which is having similar budgetary issues as those in Ridgewood, they have stated that there are no funds in the Borough budget for planting trees. Residents who would like to plant trees in front of their properties can make donations directly to their Shade Tree Commission for planting. All trees must be selected by the Shade Tree Commission, and planting must be supervised by the Commission. In Hamilton Township, the town provides for tree donations from outside sources. Homeowners must water and care for the trees. In Upper Arlington, Ohio, the city encourages residents to plant trees within a public right-of-way. Residents can purchase and plant trees through a cost share program, which helps to offset some of the costs of the trees. The program allows residents to order new trees, and planting is provided by the city. Most other maintenance is provided on a six-year cycle by the city. The city maintains responsibility for removing dying and unsafe trees. Finally, in Dumont, New Jersey, there is an Adopt-a-Tree program in which the tree is planted in the right-of-way by the town in exchange for the homeowner’s commitment to water the tree for at least three years, and to watch for any damage from vehicles and other sources. Any or all of these provisions could be considered for adoption in Ridgewood. Mr. Wolfson pointed out that in Paramus, a landscape zone is designated, which is a five-foot piece of property in which the Borough will plant a tree, and take all responsibility for it, just as if it had been planted on Borough property. There are many other examples in which alternatives can be found to fund and administer the program. Mr. Wolfson noted that the Shade Tree Department felt that the Village should be planting trees on private property. The current members of the Shade Tree Commission believe that their mission is to plant trees, and accomplishing a goal of placing trees on private property would be a very complicated and long process, and would not ultimately be successful.
There have been issues in the Village with starting a community forestry plan, and issues involved in what to tell a resident who asks why planting is not done. Putting aside the fact that there are no funds or trees available, the Village does not currently have the right to plant anywhere. That particular issue needs to be resolved as soon as possible.
Mr. Wolfson said he is aware that there were recently discussions held relating to the possibility of allowing residents to plant trees. The Commission members support any program that would allow the planting of trees in the Village. However, they do have concerns about that process. They are concerned about liability, and who has responsibility/ownership of the trees. The Commission believes that the best approach would be to have the Village retain all responsibility concerning the trees.
The Shade Tree Commission members would like to start the process of creating an ordinance by having frequent discussions on the various aspects of it. He is not aware of the situation regarding the proposal of whether to allow residents to plant or not, but he thinks that needs to be researched in greater depth before a decision can be made.
Councilman Sedon noted that he had reviewed several different ordinances from other communities, including one from Madison, New Jersey, in which the town can arbitrarily plant trees whenever and wherever it chooses. However, the town also takes responsibility for caring for the trees planted. On the other hand, a town like Paramus might decide to plant a tree in a specific location, and notify the residents at that location of its intention. If the resident has any concerns about the tree being planted in that location, s/he can voice those concerns to the Shade Tree Commission in Paramus. Paramus also charges the homeowner for planting the tree, as well as for its maintenance. The resident can choose to pay fees to the Shade Tree Commission, or the resident can wait until tax time, at which time a lien could be placed against the house if the fees were not paid to the Shade Tree Commission.
Mayor Aronsohn asked for clarification that the Shade Tree Commission was recommending that trees should be planted in the medians wherever possible, and he asked who would bear the cost. Councilman Sedon said that has not been decided, but it is part of the conversation that needs to be initiated. He suggested that, when it comes to deciding where a tree should be planted, perhaps the Director of the Parks and Recreation Department, or his designee, could be the one to make that decision. He or his designee could also be the one to make regular inspections of the trees that are planted. Someone with a State arborist certification should be the one to make those evaluations, which will leave some of the control with the Village.
Mayor Aronsohn recalled that, in the previous presentations made by the Shade Tree Commission, the recommendation was that the trees should not be planted in the medians. Mr. Wolfson did not recall such a discussion from several months ago.
Councilwoman Knudsen asked if the number of residents who want trees or are waiting for trees is available. Mr. Wolfson said that is an elusive number, and that the Shade Tree Commissioners have been tracking requests for removal. That number was approximately 140, but there may have been some additions to that number since the last time Mr. Wolfson accessed it. He noted that the current sidewalk replacement program is causing tremendous destruction to trees in the Village. It is his understanding that with approximately 25% of the Village ready for new sidewalks, there are approximately 1,000 requests for root grinding. Experience with root grinding has indicated that approximately 70% of the trees are removed. That means that the possibility of planting approximately 700 trees exists in that 25% of the population. Extrapolating those figures to the rest of the Village indicates that the possibility exists that approximately 2,800 trees would be planted throughout the Village. The Shade Tree Commission is acknowledging that this creates a problem. One problem is that a tree has a useful life of approximately 100 years, while a sidewalk has a useful life of approximately 25 years. A tree also appreciates in value, but a sidewalk does not. Studies have suggested that the value of a single tree could be approximately $90,000, which means that the approximate value of all the trees to be replaced in the Village is $250 million. Mr. Wolfson reiterated that the Village needs to have control over the tree situation.
Regarding planting trees in the medians, Councilwoman Knudsen asked if it would be possible to require a homeowner to sign some type of contract or waiver that removes the obligation of caring for the tree from the Village and places it on the homeowner. If the homeowner is willing to sign such a contract, Councilwoman Knudsen asked if it would be possible to issue a voucher toward the purchase of a tree, or something else that could be done to facilitate the purchase and planting of trees. Mr. Rogers, Village Attorney, explained that one thing that was mentioned is that there are many ways to approach the situation, but the liability with respect to the trees and the medians, as well as the liability involved with the Village having any control of any aspect of planting the trees, is significant. Issues have arisen with respect to the lifting of sidewalk slabs; interference with water lines and other types of utility lines; and people tripping over sidewalk slabs or loose sidewalk areas. Those are just the concerns in the residential areas. That is why the extent of the involvement of the Village in the tree planting has to be carefully scrutinized. The agreements that Councilwoman Knudsen asked about can be obtained. Mr. Rogers noted that in the beginning of the presentation, Mr. Wolfson said there had been many requests for replacement trees, and if the consent of the homeowner can be obtained in maintaining the tree, it could go a long way toward removing the Village’s liability in that regard.
Mr. Rogers noted that there are two issues in this proposal. One is with respect to the planting of trees, and the second one is what is expected of the Shade Tree Commission. Those must be separate discussions, because there are separate issues involved. However, they do need to be addressed. From a liability standpoint, Mr. Rogers said it must be carefully considered and decided with the understanding that it is a balancing issue between having tree-lined streets and what happens when there is significant damage to many trees in the Village due to unforeseen events that cause significant damage, such as Hurricane Sandy, which can lead to liability issues.
Councilman Pucciarelli recalled the previous discussion about shade trees, and recalled that it was mentioned that it would be nice to have tree-lined streets, with trees planted in the medians, but that is not the reality. He noted that in many places, there is no median, or it is too narrow. In addition, there was a lot of discussion about sidewalk damage caused by trees. The point was also made that trees do not thrive in medians, and that they are unhealthy for trees. Trees also conflict with overhead wires, and when the trees fall, they often take the wires with them. The maintenance obligation was also discussed, and the fact that the Village cannot afford to maintain thousands of trees. In fact, Councilman Pucciarelli thought that the issue had been resolved to the effect that the homeowners would maintain trees on their properties. Mr. Wolfson responded that that is the conversation he hopes to have. He needs to know what the Councilmembers feel the responsibility of the Village is regarding the trees. This has to be resolved one way or another, because people do not understand exactly what is going on with respect to the trees. The Shade Tree Commission will abide by whatever decision is made by the Councilmembers.
Councilwoman Hauck disagreed with Councilman Pucciarelli, saying that she believes it is the Village’s responsibility to plant in the future. She believes the past problems with the trees were due to the fact that so many of the trees in Ridgewood are very old, and were ready to fall down. Councilwoman Hauck believes that sooner rather than later, most of the trees in the Village are going to fall. It is not feasible to only plant shrub trees because they are “safe,” and their lifespan is not as long as those of larger trees, such as oak trees. Councilwoman Hauck believes there should be a percentage of shade trees planted for canopy, as well as a percentage allotted to smaller trees that can be planted on the medians. Her choice would be to allow the medians to be planted only with designated shrub trees, which are the trees currently listed on the recommended list published by the Parks and Recreation Department. In addition, the trees could only be planted on the side of the street with no wires. Anyone who is interested in planting canopy trees could request landowner easements, which would be available through the Village Manager’s office. Councilwoman Hauck also suggested that the Parks and Recreation Department could maintain an inventory list of which properties have easements. Councilman Pucciarelli asked why it would be necessary for a property owner to get permission to purchase and plant an oak tree, and Councilwoman Hauck said that perhaps the purpose of the easement would be for the Village to maintain the trees. Mr. Rogers pointed out that if the Village maintains the trees, the Village also has the liability for those trees.
Councilman Sedon suggested that a planting zone could be designated inside the property line, but not in the median. The Village could send someone out to mark out the area where the tree can be planted, so that it would not interfere with any utility lines. A permitting process would allow the Village to maintain some control over the process.
Mr. Wolfson asked how to keep the process moving forward. There have been a lot of discussions on various aspects of a shade tree policy, but nothing has been resolved. Mayor Aronsohn suggested that this be kept on Village Council agendas until a decision is reached by the Village Council.
Councilman Pucciarelli pointed out that there are many large canopy trees on Village property that have grown old and suffered over the years from lack of maintenance. At the same time, the Parks Department staff in the Village has grown smaller over the years. The inclination seems to be to increase staff and create a department to maintain trees, while at the same time protecting the Village from any liability, and going back to being responsible for thousands of trees. However, Councilman Pucciarelli was emphatic that, in the previous discussion, it was decided that the medians were not the place to plant canopy trees. Mr. Wolfson acknowledged that what Councilman Pucciarelli said was true, but he pointed out that it is not necessary to consider replacing thousands of trees right away. The Village is limited by the funds available to spend. It might be possible to take 50-100 trees in a year to start the program. All of the work would have to be done on an incremental basis, as funds become available. He reiterated that any or all of the policies used in other communities can be considered when making a decision about a shade tree policy in the Village. Mr. Wolfson pointed out that there are no set standards for the rights-of-way in Ridgewood. In some places, it is 50 feet from the center line, while in others, it is 60 feet from the center line. The grassy areas also vary in size.
Mayor Aronsohn requested that this discussion be put on the October 22, 2014, Work Session Meeting agenda. He also asked if Timothy Cronin, Director of the Parks and Recreation Department could give his input on this issue. Mayor Aronsohn also asked if a list of the pros and cons for the different aspects to be considered could be furnished to the Councilmembers. Mr. Wolfson said he would try to put that together for the next discussion.
Ms. Sonenfeld added that she and Mr. Cronin had started to put together an impact of the sidewalk project referred to by Mr. Wolfson. She noted that there has been an effort over the last two years to look at sidewalks to determine whether they need to be replaced, which causes a reaction in the Parks and Recreation Department to determine what they need to do regarding the trees near the sidewalks. Ms. Sonenfeld said she would present in her Manager’s Report next week an item discussing how this has particularly impacted the resources of the Parks and Recreation Department.
2.) Change Two-Hour Parking Meters to Three-Hour Parking Meters
Ms. Sonenfeld noted that this was discussed earlier in this meeting, when the parking proposal was discussed. Mayor Aronsohn thought some more discussion on this might help. It will be placed on the agenda for discussion at the October 22, 2014, Work Session Meeting.
3.) Removed from Agenda
4.) Removed from Agenda
5.) Vending Machines in Village Hall
Ms. Sonenfeld noted that this is related to the desire to have vending machines in Village Hall again. Councilwoman Hauck and Ms. Mailander are recommending Intelligent Foods on Demand be chosen as the vendor for the machine, which would be located in the alcove of the vestibule area of the Village Hall lobby. Ms. Mailander explained that the reason Intelligent Foods on Demand was chosen was because they can provide cold and packaged foods, and they can mix of various types of foods in the machine (chips, healthy food, yogurt, and other items), as well as a mix of different drinks. In addition, their machines are aesthetically pleasing. Councilwoman Hauck noted that the Community Center Advisory Board discussed the absence of vending machines, and how much they were missed, and they have been requesting this for a while. She also pointed out that the downside of going with Intelligent Foods on Demand is that there is no revenue stream for the Village. Ms. Mailander noted that the Intelligent Foods on Demand machine will accept cash or credit cards, as well as payment from smart phones.
Councilwoman Knudsen asked what would happen in the event that there was any flooding on the first floor, and if the Village has any liability. Councilwoman Hauck responded that the machines are insured by the vendors. Ms. Mailander added that the situation was explained to them, and the company said that if they knew a weather event with flooding was forecast, they would come and remove the machine. Mr. Rogers noted that this is a good point, because the Village would need the vendor to sign some type of waiver to hold the Village harmless in such cases.
The Village Council agreed to put this resolution on the agenda for the October 8, 2014 Public Meeting.
6.) Revisions to Parking Ordinance – Franklin Avenue
Ms. Sonenfeld commented that this is a proposed revision to the parking ordinance affecting Franklin Avenue between North Irving Street and the dead-end, which has been endorsed by the Citizens Safety Advisory Committee. It will enable the residents on that street to access their driveways. It is the same regulation that governs North Irving Street near Stevens Field. Surveys were mailed to two residents in the area, and only one of the surveys was returned, which supports the change. Councilwoman Knudsen said the resident who did not return the survey called her, and Councilwoman Knudsen asked the resident to respond to the survey, but the resident responded to Councilwoman Knudsen. The resident told Councilwoman Knudsen that s/he is opposed to this change, because there had been parking restrictions on one side of the street, which has not been enforced, due to damage to the signs notifying drivers of the parking restrictions. The resident believes that if that policy was re-established, and the signs were replaced, it would resolve this issue.
Mayor Aronsohn noted that everyone has been concerned with parking recently, and the issue of valet parking was a recent subject for the Village Council. The Councilmembers were able to act relatively quickly to allow valet parking in the CBD. Another issue that was raised was regarding parking for employees of businesses in the CBD, and there was a proposal from the Chamber of Commerce that the employees be allowed to park at the Ken Smith site. That is still under discussion. However, Mayor Aronsohn said that this piecemeal approach to the parking problem is not how the Councilmembers wish to proceed. They are trying to move as quickly as possible, but there are considerations that sometimes prevent them from moving as quickly as they would like. The forums that have been held regarding parking in the CBD have been very helpful. Mayor Aronsohn and Ms. Sonenfeld decided that the best way to proceed would be to draft some kind of proposal to keep the discussion moving forward.
Some of the objectives that Mayor Aronsohn and Ms. Sonenfeld have in proposing the Ridgewood downtown parking initiative, the goal of which is to enhance parking in the CBD, include finding more parking spaces, as well as some standardization in parking, so that it is not only easier to park in the CBD, but simpler to understand how and where to park. One of the key proposals is valet parking, which allows businesses to offer valet parking to their customers, making more parking spaces available on the streets and in the lots to shoppers and diners. Another important element is employee parking, which allows employees of businesses in the CBD to purchase monthly permits and park off-site at the former Ken Smith location. That is a temporary solution, but it will guarantee employees a parking space while making more space available on the streets and in the parking lots to shoppers, diners, and commuters. The third part is evaluating the long-term resident parking, which would allow residents to purchase annual, monthly, or pro-rated permits enabling them to park indefinitely (except overnight) in the parking lots. There are two options available with the long-term resident parking permit scenario. One of those options is to restrict the permits to Ridgewood residents only, and prohibiting non-residents from purchasing them. The other option is to allow the permits to be purchased by non-residents at a much higher cost. Mayor Aronsohn commented that there is such a dearth of parking in Ridgewood that he feels strongly that Ridgewood residents should be taken care of first. Purchasing parking permits would make more spaces available in the lots for shoppers, diners, and commuters. In conjunction with this, Mayor Aronsohn proposed standardizing the time and cost of the parking meters. Downtown meters would be operative from 10:00 A.M.-6:00 P.M., and would allow three hours of parking (except for the 15-minute meters that are still available) at $.25 per 30 minutes. That would mean that parking in the parking lots would be limited to a maximum of three hours, unless a parking permit is used.
In addition, Mayor Aronsohn and Ms. Sonenfeld discussed the issue of holiday parking. Free parking during the holiday shopping season was provided in the CBD in the past, but there was usually no advertising for it. Mayor Aronsohn and Ms. Sonenfeld now propose that the free parking policy be standardized, so that from Thanksgiving-New Year’s, weekend parking is free throughout the Village, in the parking lots as well as on the street.
Ms. Sonenfeld pointed out that the proposal would mean that there would be no 12-hour meters, but all meters would be three-hour meters. The only way in which anyone could park for a longer period of time is if the driver had the Ridgewood resident permit, or if non-residents are allowed to purchase the permits at the higher cost. She pointed out that so far this year, 355 parking permits have been sold, which is an increase over the 279 permits sold last year. Approximately one-third of those permits were sold to non-residents, with the other two-thirds going to residents. Preliminary estimates indicate that by slightly raising the fee charged for the resident permits, as well as making all parking meters $.25 per 30 minutes, the Village will at least break even from a cost perspective.
Mayor Aronsohn noted that he and Ms. Sonenfeld were trying to get away from dealing with the parking situation on a piecemeal basis, and look at it as a whole. They are considering this Phase 1 of the parking initiative, and presumably, Phase 2 would be changing the meter technology, while Phase 3 would be adding the parking garages. Ms. Sonenfeld added that effective today, UP3 permits are no longer being sold to non-residents. She also stated that a decision should be made on this issue relatively quickly, because if the Councilmembers decide that they do not want to provide non-residents with parking permits, notifications have to be made to the non-residents directing them to make other arrangements for 2015 onward. Mayor Aronsohn also noted that if/when the parking garages are built, everything possible will be done to accommodate commuters from outside of Ridgewood.
Councilwoman Knudsen asked how it will be possible to confirm that a resident parking sticker on a vehicle is actually being used by a resident instead of someone who purchased it for a friend who lives in another town. Ms. Sonenfeld responded that a procedure would have to be developed to verify that information, such as running license plates from police cars. Councilwoman Knudsen also asked a question about the three-hour parking meters, because she firmly believes that the longer people stay in Ridgewood, the more likely they are to visit shops and dine, and bring more revenue to the Village. She wanted to know if shoppers would be allowed to insert multiple quarters in the meters, and how the three-hour limit was decided. Mayor Aronsohn explained that the three-hour limit had been discussed for several years, but it is not definite that three hours would be the limit.
Councilman Pucciarelli commented that increasing the meters to three hours would be an improvement, but he is not sure that the limit should be more than three hours. However, he would want to get input from the merchants before making that decision. On the question of commuter use of Village parking lots, Councilman Pucciarelli said he is mindful of the fact that the reason Ridgewood is a junction of two train lines is due to the fact that it serves a large population, and he does not believe the lots should be restricted to use by Ridgewood residents only. Train service in Ridgewood is so good because there are approximately 1,500 commuters who are served by it on a daily basis, and a large percentage of them seem to be non-residents. It is also important to remember that the CBD is a thriving area due, in part, to the fact that people from other communities come to Ridgewood to buy and sell products, as well as to dine in the restaurants there and patronize the various businesses. There is an obligation to serve the broader community, which seems to conflict with the natural bias toward Ridgewood residents. The bias toward Ridgewood residents is justifiable because the parking lots are owned by the Village. That is why Councilman Pucciarelli thinks the lots should be available for use by non-residents at a premium price, although he is not sure if the suggested price ratio of 2:1 is feasible.
As far as technology is concerned, Councilman Pucciarelli stated that when he hears someone talk about putting as many as 16 quarters in a parking meter, it sounds very archaic and cumbersome to him. This is especially true when considering that iPhones can now be used to swipe credit cards.
Ms. Sonenfeld pointed out that as far as non-residents are concerned, the fact is that there are at least 120 UP3 permits that have been sold to non-residents. She also noted that something that may have unwittingly been occurring is in the 12-hour parking lots, where the cost is $.25 per hour, non-residents could be paying up to $3 per day to use those lots, which is very cheap. Ms. Sonenfeld stated that the previous Village Manager made several proposals to switch to other types of parking meters. Therefore, she recommends that, instead of making a unilateral proposal to the Village Council, an internal team could be put together that could evaluate the various technologies available. The members of the team should be from different parts of Village administration, such as people from the Engineering and Signal Departments, as well as from other departments, to determine what kind of technology could be used, because there is a lot more technology available than there was two years ago. A cost/benefit analysis would also have to be done. At some point, Mayor Aronsohn said that the team could come to the Village Council with several different proposals to cover different aspects of the parking situation. Ms. Sonenfeld added that vendors could be coming in as soon as next week.
Councilwoman Hauck recalled that she had only been on the Village Council for a week and she was sending emails to the previous Village Manager asking why no research was being done on smart meters. She also recalled that a proposal for new parking meters was presented last year, and it was rejected twice. In addition, Councilwoman Hauck pointed out that Ridgewood is known as a commuter town and a bedroom community. Therefore, it is necessary to be cognizant of the needs of commuters. That is why she agrees with that statement made by Mr. Vagianos that if the parking situation is not addressed, the CBD will languish and die. If this occurs, the residents would no longer have an incentive to shop in the CBD, making it necessary to balance the needs of the residents against the needs of the commuters. Councilwoman Hauck does not feel comfortable with prohibiting non-residents from purchasing parking permits, but she does support allowing them to buy the permits at twice the cost, because it could be a revenue source, as well as a deterrent to having too many commuters parking in the CBD. She does not believe it would necessarily make more parking spots available, because she thinks it might be worth it to someone from a neighboring town to pay twice as much for a parking sticker that would allow him/her to park for an indefinite period of time.
Regarding standardized meters, Councilwoman Hauck noted that she could never remember or keep track of how many quarters should be inserted into any given parking meter in Ridgewood, because all of them were set to different time limits. Standardization of time limits for all parking meters seems to be a brilliant idea. Finally, Councilwoman Hauck commented that clearly, these are all short-term solutions until the parking garages are built.
Mayor Aronsohn responded to Councilwoman Hauck’s point about the sale of parking permits to non-residents at twice the cost, which he noted would probably serve as somewhat of a disincentive to non-residents, and would therefore free up some parking spaces, although not enough to meet the needs of Ridgewood residents. On the other hand, it would be revenue for the Village, which could be put toward new technology, as well as the parking garages. Ms. Sonenfeld said that she is also concerned about the Ridgewood residents who use the train perhaps once or twice a month, especially if there were no 12-hour parking meters, and the resident could only use a residents’ parking permit, which makes parking an extremely expensive proposition for those residents. She suggested that perhaps there could be some 12-hour meters available for use only by residents with those parking stickers.
Councilman Sedon agreed with Councilman Pucciarelli and Councilwoman Knudsen that it might be a good idea to extend the time limit for parking meters to four hours instead of three hours, which would give shoppers more time to walk around the CBD, and allow them to relax. It would also make sense to him to have 12-hour meters at the train station so commuters could still use the train station, and have the four-hour meters in the other lots around the CBD. This might also help employees in the CBD who work part time, or whose jobs are too far away from the Ken Smith site to make it feasible to park there. Ms. Sonenfeld responded that, according to the business leaders in the CBD, it has been felt that the employees are taking up too many of the available parking spots in the CBD, which does not allow customers and residents to use those spots for shopping. The Ken Smith site was proposed because it would provide at least some temporary relief from that problem. In addition, repeat parking is prohibited in Ridgewood, and that would be strictly enforced.
Councilwoman Knudsen asked if there was any information available about how many people are employed in the CBD during the day, because it would help to have that information in order to make an informed decision about changes to the parking. It would be helpful to have an inventory or count of how many spaces are actually needed for employees in the CBD, and it would also help in determining who is using the parking spaces. Councilwoman Knudsen said the more information the Councilmembers have, would put them in a better position to make the type of impact they want to make. Ms. Sonenfeld said she has requested how many employees are really parking in the CBD, but that number is not yet available. Councilwoman Knudsen asked if some type of on-line survey form could be created which could be disseminated through the Chamber of Commerce. Mayor Aronsohn responded that a lot of that information has already been made available to meet the employees’ parking needs, but Ms. Sonenfeld said she would try to get a better estimate.
Councilman Pucciarelli stated that he heard Mr. Hillman make the same presentation that he made tonight at the last forum on the CBD that was held two weeks ago. He also listened to Mr. Ferro’s comments, and it seems that their concerns are that the commuters are taking up the lots that would otherwise be available to shoppers. Councilman Pucciarelli pointed out that the needs of the commuters, as well as the shoppers, must be taken into consideration, and he noted that Ms. Sonenfeld attempted to address that by restricting the purchase of permits to Ridgewood residents, which Councilman Pucciarelli said might work. However, he asked if the lots are restricted to Ridgewood residents, how many spaces would actually be available to shoppers as opposed to commuters.
Paul Vagianos, 280 Rivera Court, commended the Councilmembers for discussing this proposal. He thought it was an excellent proposal, and he thanked Councilman Pucciarelli for the forums he has been hosting to discuss the issues in the CBD. One of his concerns has been the idea of allowing non-residents to park as commuters in Ridgewood parking lots, and he has come to the conclusion that Ridgewood residents need to be considered first.
Tom Hillmann, 133 East Ridgewood Avenue, pointed out that when considering the 120 UP3 permits that were sold to non-residents that they will no longer be allowed to purchase, the Councilmembers should also consider how many times those 12-hour parking spots could be turned over during any given 12-hour period. The answer would not be 120 cars, but perhaps would be closer to 1,000 cars. That is why Mr. Hillmann believes it is necessary to put a moratorium in effect and serve Ridgewood residents and merchants first, because they are paying taxes to Ridgewood and deserve to be considered.
Albert Ferro, 31 East Ridgewood Avenue, asked how many parking spots are available at the Ken Smith site. It is his understanding that Whole Foods rents approximately 65 spaces, and one of his tenants rents 10 spaces, so he wondered how many would be available under the proposal. Ms. Sonenfeld said it would be 100-120, with the higher number occurring once the building on the Ken Smith site has been demolished.
Mayor Aronsohn thanked everyone for the discussion, and said that they must move quickly in order to have it implemented by January 1, 2015. This information will be put on the Village website, and he asked that this subject be discussed further at the next Work Session.
c. Operations:
1.) Shared Services Agreement with Borough of Glen Rock – OHD Quantifit Respirator Fit Testing System for Fire Department
Ms. Sonenfeld stated that this will authorize her and Mayor Aronsohn to enter into a Shared Services agreement with the Borough of Glen Rock to purchase and maintain a Quantifit respirator fit testing system to be used by both Fire Departments. These tests are performed to ensure the respirator works properly, and that the seal between the respirator face piece and a person’s face is tight. The funds for this are in the capital budget.
The Village Council agreed to put this resolution on the agenda for the October 8, 2014 Public Meeting.
2.) Installation of Stop Sign – Kensington Drive and Sterling Place
Ms. Sonenfeld noted that this is for a proposed stop sign on Kensington Drive at Sterling Place. There had been indications that a stop sign was planned, but was never properly established by ordinance.
The Village Council agreed to put this resolution on the agenda for the October 8, 2014 Public Meeting.
3.) Form and Sale Resolution
Ms. Sonenfeld explained that this is a refinancing of 2007 debt that is outstanding. The amount to be refinanced is up to $10,750,000. Certain criteria must be met, including the size of the debt, as well as the reduction of principal and interest payments over time. This refinancing will result in a savings of approximately $700,000 between the general bonds and the Water Utility bonds. Matthew Jessup, Bond Counsel, recalled that he appeared before the Village Council in 2013, at which time he explained that the Village had the opportunity to refinance Series 2005 bonds for the general capital and Water Utility bonds, as well as the 2007 bonds for the same two funds. At that time, it was decided that the economics of the 2007 bonds were not beneficial, and it would be better to wait to see how the markets performed. The refinancing of the 2005 bonds was closed very successfully in April 2013. The economics have now improved for the 2007 bond refinancing, and the Councilmembers have a resolution to authorize the sale of these 2007 bonds. The bond ordinance from 2013 covers the 2007 bonds as well, so it is not necessary to do another bond ordinance. However, the resolution from 2013 only applied to the 2005 bond issue. All fees are paid out of the bond issue itself, so the net present value savings on a percentage basis is 4.63%. As a frame of reference, Mr. Jessup stated that the State Local Finance Board, along with the State and National Government Finance Officers Association, have said that if the refunding earns at least 3% in net present value savings, it does not have to be approved by the Local Finance Board, as was previously required. As another frame of reference, Mr. Jessup pointed out that a Board of Education in this situation would be required to do this refunding, or risk losing State aid.
Councilman Sedon asked the total amount of outstanding debt in the Village. Stephen Sanzari, Chief Financial Officer, answered that it is currently $59,105,961. Councilwoman Hauck asked if the Village receives any benefits from its AAA rating when these refunding bonds are issued. Mr. Sanzari responded that the Village was just re-evaluated by the bond rating companies this past August, and was re-affirmed as AAA-rated. Councilman Pucciarelli asked if the 4.63% quoted by Mr. Jessup is locked in, or if it is an assumed rate. Mr. Jessup said those numbers are based on the bond yield, which is projected by the underwriting firm who will sell the bonds. If the market should change and go below 3%, the Village would not be able to proceed with selling the bonds.
Councilman Pucciarelli asked how long it would take to finalize the deal. Mr. Jessup said it is his understanding that the Village audit is not yet complete, which is something that would have to be done before the underwriter would be allowed to sell the securities. They are not allowed to sell securities unless the financial information is less than 18 months old. The previous audit, done in 2012, is too old to meet the criteria. Councilwoman Hauck asked what the maturity date of the 2007 bond is. Mr. Jessup responded that the bonds can be called on June 1, 2017. They go through 2024 on the general capital side, and 2032 on the Water Utility side. Ms. Sonenfeld added that the new bonds will have the same maturity date.
The Village Council agreed to put this resolution on the agenda for the October 8, 2014 Public Meeting.
4.) Chamber Sign Program
Ms. Sonenfeld commented that this will allow the placement of additional wayfinding signs in the CBD, extending the project to South Broad Street from where it is on Oak Street. After speaking to the Chamber of Commerce, it was agreed that the Signal Department would install the signs prior to the holiday season. The Chamber of Commerce requested that the Village also look at several other streets, but they will not be done at this time. Some of them require capital expenditures, because they require poles. There is a pole already available on South Broad Street, which will allow the wayfinding signs to be hung.
The Village Council agreed to put this resolution on the agenda for the October 8, 2014 Public Meeting.
5. REVIEW OF OCTOBER 8, 2014 AGENDA
Ms. Mailander announced that the Public Meeting would include the following Proclamation: Recognize and Honor Charlotte Samuels for Achievement of Completing Triple Crown for Swimming. There will also be the swearing-in of Police Officer Keith Killion, Jr. In addition, there will be a presentation by the Ridgewood Public Library regarding their nomination as the Best Small Public Library in America.
Ordinances to be introduced include: Require Pest-Control during Demolition of Structures; and Amend Chapter 265 – Vehicles and Traffic – Installation of Stop Signs – Kensington Drive and Sterling Place.
The scheduled Public Hearings include: Amend Ordinance 3429 – Residency Requirements; Supervisors Salary Ordinance; Establish Central Business District Employee Parking.
Resolutions include: Award Contract – Pickup, Removal, and Hauling of Leaves; Award Extraordinary Unspecifiable Contract – Air Conditioning Replacement at 1057 Hillcrest Road; Award Extraordinary Unspecifiable Contract – Police Department Doors; Award Contract under County Contract – Sweepers; Award Contract under County Contract – Rocksalt; Award Contract under State Contract – Jeep Patriot and Ford Utility Police Interceptor; Award Contract – Service & Repair of Potable Water Pumping Facilities; Award Contract – Inspection of Concrete Tanks; Award Contract – Inspection of Steel Tanks; Authorize NJDOT Grant Application – Morningside Road; Authorize Shared Services Agreement – OHD Quantifit Respirator Fit Testing System for Fire Department (Glen Rock); Award Contract under State Contract – Bulletproof Vests; Vending Machines for Village Hall; and Approve Installation of Additional Wayfinding Signs in Central Business District.
6. MANAGER’S REPORT
Ms. Sonenfeld started with an announcement that Sharyn Matthews was hired as the Village’s Senior Human Resources Professional. Sharyn has 20 years of experience in Human Resources; a BS in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University; an MS in Hearing Resources from Mercy; as well as holding a certificate as a Senior Professional in Human Resources. In addition, Sharyn has been lead and head of several Human Resources organizations. Sharyn will provide HR advice and counsel to all levels of the organization. She will also be addressing some of the issues in the Village HR policies, procedures, and practices. Sharyn will also work with Ms. Sonenfeld on organizational structure, workforce planning, succession planning, leadership development, and other issues of that nature.
A new Director of the Building Department was also hired. Ms. Sonenfeld announced that he is Thomas Yotka, who has more than 25 years of experience in code enforcement, as well as various certifications as construction official and building/fire official, among other certifications he holds. Mr. Yotka has served in this capacity in other places, and his emphasis has been on improving processes and enhancing customer service, as well as increasing efficiency by implementing performance and software technology.
Next, Ms. Sonenfeld gave a summary of the revenue from Graydon Pool. In 2014, the revenue was approximately $372,000. The figure for 2013 was approximately $366,000, so 2014 showed an increase of approximately $6,000 over 2013. The revenue figure includes revenues from the tennis courts, and the tennis revenue accounted for more than $1,000 of that $6,000 increase. The total revenue raised by the tennis courts is approximately $3,500 annually. Ms. Sonenfeld noted that there was a significant increase in the amount of daily passes sold at Graydon Pool, which means that seasonal memberships decreased. That would not matter so much except for the fact that there was great weather this past summer, and the weather-dependent revenue is more risky than the season passes, which is a concern.
Regarding the work being done at Garber Square, Ms. Sonenfeld commented that it is almost finished. Everything should be completed by the end of this week or the beginning of next week, as long as the good weather holds. The only work left to be done after that is the milling, paving, and striping. Ms. Sonenfeld is negotiating with the contractor to have the milling, paving, and striping work completed overnight, but she cannot commit to that. Ms. Sonenfeld said she appreciates everyone’s patience during the time that was required to complete this work. She added that it looks like the job will be completed within budget.
Ms. Sonenfeld clarified a statement she made earlier about the piece of land that was sold on South Broad Street. That piece of land was not purchased using Green Acres funds, but it was listed on the Village’s Open Space inventory when the Green Acres funds were accepted. Mayor Aronsohn commented that it seems like a heavy penalty. Ms. Sonenfeld explained that the property was listed on a Recreation Open Space Inventory (ROSI) list, but was taken off the list because it was sold. However, when Grove Park was purchased using Green Acres funds, the Village was not in compliance because the property on South Broad Street was sold. Ms. Sonenfeld explained that the Village knew in January 2012 that additional property would have to be purchased because of the sale of land on South Broad Street.
Several weeks ago, Ms. Sonenfeld mentioned that she and Christopher Rutishauser, Village Engineer, would do a walkthrough of the sidewalk cafés throughout the Village. They completed their walkthrough, although they did not limit themselves to evaluating the sidewalk cafés in the Village. They also evaluated the windows of the various businesses, because complaints have been lodged that there were too many signs in the windows. Ms. Sonenfeld said the next challenge is how to find resources for stricter Code compliance.
The new Village website is nearly ready to be unveiled. This week, Mayor Aronsohn and Ms. Sonenfeld will meet with Dylan Hansen, Network Supervisor, to take a final look at the new website. It is hoped that they will be able to walk everyone through it next week.
Ms. Sonenfeld introduced a new category to her report, called “Ripped from the Headlines”. There have been many articles lately in the newspapers about police cameras, and Ms. Sonenfeld wanted to address that issue. The Police Department and Ms. Sonenfeld have been working on updating the vehicles to a system called Watch Guard. All of the traffic enforcement and primary patrol cars in Ridgewood are equipped with cameras. As vehicles are purchased in the future, the cameras will be included as part of the specifications. There has also been a lot of discussion about body cameras, and Police Chief John Ward is now discussing the possibility of getting these cameras with the same firm. The cameras will be integrated with the vehicle cameras.
Moving on to water meter installations, Ms. Sonenfeld said the project has started. Ridgewood Water has completed 279 installations so far, and everything seems to be on target.
Ms. Sonenfeld noted that Green Sky Industries, a firm that provides municipal recycling, has gone out of business in New Jersey. As a result, many municipalities have been scrambling to find someone else to take their recycling. Ridgewood was very fortunate that they were not involved with that company. Approximately 3 years ago, someone from Green Sky Industries approached Frank Moritz offering higher recycling revenues. Other municipalities were consulted, and it was found that Green Sky was slow to pay. As a result, the company that does recycling for the Village was consulted, and prices were renegotiated. That enabled the Village to avoid the fiasco when Green Sky went out of business.
The most recent “Meet the Manager” session was held on September 27th. Approximately 12 people attended, and most of the discussion was about paving. Some property maintenance issues were discussed, and the Ridgewood Arts Council met with Ms. Sonenfeld during the last 15 minutes with Janet Fricke, Assistant to the Village Manager, and Ms. Sonenfeld. They walked around the building to discuss where to place art.
In her “Response to Residents” section, Ms. Sonenfeld noted that a resident on Bingham Road expressed a concern about a drainage issue. Ms. Sonenfeld and Mr. Rutishauser visited the area, and Mr. Rutishauser checked the land maps, and the result was a determination that the drainage ditch was on private property, and therefore not the Village’s responsibility. It was suggested to the owner that situation would be improved by the removal of trees, rocks, and brush, that could impede the water flow.
Another issue arose when a resident stated that one of the recycling bins in the Recycling Center is hard to reach for shorter people. As a result, commercial stairs with railings are being installed at this recycling bin.
One more issue that was discussed was with the resident who was concerned about the repaving of East Glen Avenue, and the ADA-compliant ramps that will be required there. This has resulted in the resolution to join the County’s ADA-compliant program.
On October 8th, Charlotte Samuels will be honored at the Village Council Public Meeting with a Proclamation. On Sunday, October 5th, the Harvest Moon Hoedown will be held at Habernickel Park. The next “Meet the Mayor” event is on Saturday, October 11th, from 9:00 A.M.-12:00 noon. Village Hall will be closed on Monday, October 13th, in observance of Columbus Day. The sixth annual Access Weekend will be held on October 17th-19th. Leaf removal begins on Monday, October 20th. The next “Meet the Manager” date is currently being set.
7. COUNCIL REPORTS
Citizens Safety Advisory Committee– Councilman Sedon stated that the parking restriction on Franklin Avenue was discussed, and one of the residents surveyed showed up the meeting, stating that he supports the restriction.
There were approximately 16-17 residents from Clinton Avenue who attended the meeting because there was a discussion about putting sidewalks on one or both sides of the street, along with other paving, curb, and drainage issues. The residents do not support any sidewalks being installed, but they are supportive of curbs and drainage. The members of CSAC agreed with their recommendations.
In addition, the CSAC is also starting a process to get a bike lane plan completed. NJDOT will most likely pay for most of that, so Councilman Sedon contacted NJDOT and is waiting for a response.
Ridgewood Environmental Advisory Committee (REAC)– Councilman Sedon could not attend this meeting, but he got a report that they are discussing setting measurable goals and objectives for short-term and long-term projects. They brainstormed four categories: sustainability; conservation; environmental protection; and education. The categories will be prioritized as the committee moves forward, and they would like to make a presentation to the Village Council. Councilman Sedon is still trying to get information about the money in the REAC account in preparation for the presentation. He asked if he could get that information before October 14th, which is the date of their next meeting.
Landscaping Committee– Councilman Sedon said that the Landscaping Committee discussed the proposal for Memorial Park at Van Neste Square, which is nearly wrapped up. They are currently awaiting a bid proposal for one-time maintenance of the tree wells for cleaning and mulching before the Fourth of July, because they hope to move forward with that.
Parks, Recreation, and Conservancy (PRC) Board– Councilwoman Hauck mentioned that the “Come Alive Outside” Family Hoedown event is in four days. It will have a farm theme, and is done in partnership with Jacobson’s Landscaping Design. A food court will also be available, with Chestnut Catering and Kilwins Chocolates. There will also be a hot air balloon ride (if the wind is not too strong); pony rides; and a petting zoo. In addition, square dancing will be offered.
Fields Committee– Councilwoman Hauck noted that the Fields Committee members discussed tweaking the Board of Education’s and Village’s fields policy manual, but nothing has been resolved at this time.
Sergeant Brian Pullman presented an outline of the lightning detection system again, because the nine new locations are nearly up and running. They have been completely installed, but they are not yet turned on. The new system is the same as the old one, with the amber light and siren. The light will stay on until the “all clear” is given, and as long as the light remains on, the field should not be used. Texts and alerts are sent to families to pick up their children. Councilwoman Hauck encouraged everyone to sign up to get text messages for the lightning detection system. Sign-ups can be done through the Village website.
Councilwoman Hauck mentioned that there was a recent article about turf fields, and she believes everyone in Ridgewood might be interested in the results of that.
Finally, Councilwoman Hauck mentioned a forum that is to be held tonight at Benjamin Franklin Middle School about school safety and traffic. Everyone has been asked to encourage their children to walk to school whenever possible to reduce the volume of traffic and risk of injury to the children who are walking to school during the drop-off and pickup hours. Studies have shown that 10-15 minute walks reduce stress and are good for one’s health, as well as putting fewer vehicles on the roads.
Ridgewood Arts Council– Councilman Pucciarelli stated that the Ridgewood Arts Council, in addition to continuing their work to get art and artistic performances in Village Hall, has nearly completed their master calendar of all artistic endeavors in Ridgewood. It will be posted in one place on the Village website. The members of the Ridgewood Arts Council will be making a presentation at a Village Council meeting in the very near future to discuss their work.
Ridgewood Public Library– Councilman Pucciarelli said that the Ridgewood Public Library will also be represented at the Village Council meeting next week. He noted that he will be picking up free passes for the Frick Museum on Friday morning, and free passes to many different museums are available through the Public Library for Friday visits. These free passes represent just one of the many resources available at the Public Library.
CBD Forum– Councilman Pucciarelli commented that the last CBD forum was held two weeks ago at Roots Steakhouse, and it was well-attended. Many representatives of the business community were present, and Councilman Pucciarelli appreciated the coverage given by the Ridgewood News. One of the topics discussed was the changing demographics of the suburbs, and the fact that young people are not staying in the suburbs like they used to. In addition, one person mentioned that the appearance of Franklin Avenue is “shabby”. It encouraged everyone to focus on improving that streetscape.
It was also noted that paper signs are covering many windows in the CBD, particularly vacant storefronts. The suggestion was also made to put up signage indicating where the parking lots are. Another suggestion was made regarding placing kiosks along the streets for people who do not know their way around the Village. Parking was also discussed. The next meeting will be on Wednesday, October 29th, in the Village Hall Court Room. The focus of discussion, after the first half-hour open microphone, will be brought by a panel that will discuss the role of art and historic preservation in the CBD.
Councilwoman Knudsen mentioned that she, Mayor Aronsohn, Councilwoman Hauck, and Councilman Sedon attended the Gold Star Mothers ceremony. A Gold Star Mother is a woman who has lost a son or daughter in military service to the United States. To honor those women, the last Sunday in September is designated as the date to show support for mothers and other family members of the fallen heroes who have died serving our country. It was a beautiful ceremony.
Access Committee – Mayor Aronsohn reiterated that the sixth annual Access Ridgewood disability awareness weekend is coming up and that he, Janet Fricke, and a group of other Ridgewood residents work together to make the events happen. It is a big program, starting with a program in all the schools with a disability theme. A film is shown at the two middle schools, while there is a discussion about a disability topic at Ridgewood High School. All of the elementary schools do programming with the disability theme. There is also program available for senior citizens, led by Sheila Brogan of the Board of Education. In the evening, there will be two programs, one of which is a family “party” at the Ridgewood Public Library for children and their parents. The other is a teen dance held at Village Hall for special needs middle school and high school students. On Saturday, a community fair is held, involving a lot of organizations and local restaurants that set up in the courtyard. There are also two sets of performances held at the Ridgewood Public Library. A fashion show is also held, in which children wear their favorite outfits and walk up and down the aisles. Kathleen Donovan, the County Executive, is also expected to attend, as she does every year. United States Senator Cory Booker will also be in attendance. On Sunday, the interfaith service will be held at the Friends Church on Prospect Avenue.
8. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
Mayor Aronsohn stated they would again have comments from the public and asked anyone wishing to address the Village Council to come forward.
Boyd Loving, 342 South Irving Street, had some comments about parking. As a resident, Mr. Loving said he would be concerned if there was no place in the Village where he could park for more than two, three, or four hours. Mr. Loving states that he usually walks to the CBD, because he lives close enough to do so, but there are times when he drives his car and parks it in one of the lots that are available.
Next, Mr. Loving had a question about the UP3 permits. Ms. Sonenfeld made a statement that effective immediately, no more UP3 permits would be sold to non-residents, and Mr. Loving wondered if that was permitted in the ordinance. Ms. Sonenfeld said that she and Ms. Mailander had discussed this issue, and there is no discernment between residents and non-residents in the ordinance.
Mr. Loving asked for clarification on the Green Acres issue, and the fact that the problem did not arise from the fact that the funds were accepted for the property, but that there was an inventory problem. He recalled that it was mentioned previously that the Village is required to come up with 1.9 acres, and Ms. Sonenfeld confirmed that the properties must total five times the acreage of the property that was sold. Mr. Loving noted that the property that was sold is just under 4/10 of an acre. He also noted that the property on Highwood Avenue that may be purchased is 8/10 of an acre, and he wondered how many of these pocket parks will need to be purchased in order to make up 1.9 acres. His concern is that if there are to be several more of these parks, the maintenance costs associated with multiple parks are a lot more than the costs associated with one or two parks. That led him to wonder how long it would take for the Village to work up to the required 1.9 acres. Ms. Sonenfeld confirmed that the property in question is smaller, but it was chosen for several reasons. One is that it is close to the spot where the original park was, which serves a purpose because the Village must replace the capabilities of the original park. However, regarding the other parcels that will be found, that will not necessarily be the case. One or two other pieces of land that might be bigger have been identified, and they may not have the same type of maintenance issues as a pocket park does. Mr. Loving clarified that that means that the playground would only have to be placed in one location, which Ms. Sonenfeld confirmed.
Finally, Mr. Loving said it was indicated that the Village first knew about this situation in January 2012, and he asked if it was notified in January 2012. Ms. Sonenfeld said she believes that there was notification made at that time to the previous Village Manager. Ms. Fricke explained that the notification was received, and representatives from Green Acres were invited to come the following month so that the situation could be explained to Village officials. It was not a secret, but there was a process involved to figure out the best place for Ridgewood to handle the information that was given.
Leonard Eisen, 762 Upper Boulevard, stated that when he wants to visit a restaurant in the CBD, he knows that parking will not be available, so he chooses to park his car several blocks away and walk to the CBD. It takes him approximately 15 minutes to do so. He stated that if more people did this, there would not be such a problem with parking in the CBD.
There were no other comments from the public at this time, and Mayor Aronsohn closed the time for public comments.
9. RESOLUTION TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION
The following resolution, numbered 14-242, to go into Closed Session, was read in full by the Village Clerk, as follows:
10. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the Village Council, on a motion by Councilman Pucciarelli, seconded by Councilman Sedon, and carried unanimously by voice vote, the meeting was adjourned at 10:55 P.M.
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Paul S. Aronsohn
Mayor
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Heather A. Mailander
Village Clerk
