Recap Council Mtg. Wed., May 21, 2025 & Regular Mtg. of Jersey City Municipal Council

Click here for the May 21, 2025 Council Agenda

Next Caucus Meeting: Monday, June 9, 4 PM Next Council Meeting: Wednesday, June 11, 6 PM

Council meeting began at 6:06 PM; adjourned at 9:26 PM. All Councilpersons present.

FOR REVIEW - ORDINANCES 25-056 AND 25-057

Two ordinances, proposed by Councilperson Solomon, were adopted at the recent May 21 Council Meeting. As highlighted below, 25-056 updates the definition of building services workers, benefit standards and requirements of any abated buildings and 25-057 is an algorithm ban on rental housing platforms.

These ordinances negatively creates further restrictions for the multifamily business with policies which do not address the true rising costs of property ownership and a ban on platforms not widely used in Jersey City.

JCAOA met with Councilperson Solomon and achieved inserting some significant amendments on the ordinances from when it was first introduced earlier this month. Although they were adopted, they are imperfect. We are continuing following up with the and working on some technical corrections to the ordinances, including clarifying language in both the abatement and algorithm ordinances.

FIRST READING

Agenda Item 3.1 - Ordinance 25-058

INTRODUCTION – May 21, 2025 9-0

VIDEO: Discussion of 25-058 at Caucus

An Ordinance amending Chapter 175 (Food Handling Establishments) of the Jersey City Municipal Code, creating Itinerant Mobile Truck Parking Zone 3.

Ordinance establishing a Food Truck Permit zone specifically for Hamilton Park, intended for Ice Cream Trucks.

The Zone 3 Seasonal Vendor permit authorizes a single mobile Seasonal vendor to operate seasonally in the Hamilton Park area during the summer months.

No mobile food vendors except the designated zone three permit holder may park within the area bounded by Coles St, 9th St, Erie St and 8th St.

Agenda Item 3.2 - Ordinance 25-059

INTRODUCTION – May 21, 2025 9-0

VIDEO: Discussion of 25-059 at Caucus

An Ordinance Amending and Supplementing Chapter 255 (Short-Term Rentals)

The City finds it necessary to strengthen the enforcement mechanisms contained within the current short-term rental regulations to increase compliance. (Some of the updates to the meanings of the terms are highlighted below:)

“Dwelling” shall mean a building that is designed or used exclusively as the living quarters for one or more housekeeping units.

“Dwelling Unit” shall mean a room or series of connected rooms containing living, cooking, sleeping and sanitary facilities for one housekeeping unit.

The "dwelling unit" shall be self-contained and shall not require passing through another dwelling unit or other indirect route to get to any portion of the dwelling unit, nor shall one dwelling unit require shared facilities with another dwelling unit. Hotel facilities or other facilities providing temporary accommodations shall not be considered dwelling units.

“Intermediary” shall mean anyone besides an owner who helps to arrange a property rental for an owner and collects rent and/or taxes and other charges on behalf of the owner. An intermediary includes but is not limited to a broker, hosting platform, or short-term rental property agent.

Principal residence: a person’s permanent residence or usual place of return for housing as documented by at least two (2) of the following: motor vehicle registration state-issued identification; tax documents showing the residential unit as the person's residence; or a utility bill. A person may have only one (1) principal residence and must reside there for a minimum of two hundred seventy-five (275) days during the calendar year. For properties with two (2) or more existing legally permitted dwelling units (e.g., a duplex), the term "principal residence" shall refer to the parcel of land and all units on that parcel or within a building in a residential development project

SECOND READING

Agenda Item 4.2 - Ordinance 25-055

INTRODUCTION – May 7, 2025 8-0

An Ordinance authorizing the execution of a temporary construction easement and access easement agreement between the City of Jersey City (City) and Statco Development Group, LLC (Statco) authorizing Statco to install and maintain one monitoring well at 605 Monmouth Street.

Agenda Item 4.3 - Ordinance 25-056

INTRODUCTION – May 7, 2025 8-0

ADOPTED – May 21, 2025 9-0 VIDEO FROM COUNCIL: Councilperson Solomon remarks on 25-056

An Ordinance of the Municipal Council Amending Chapter 3 (Administration of Government), Article X (Department of Housing, Economic Development and Commerce) to amend the required wage, benefit, and leave standards for building service workers on covered development projects.

Councilperson Solomon reviewed the proposed amendments to the ordinance, last updated in 2012. The proposed language is to have the state minimum wage rate instead of federal rate. Promote safety and security at City-assisted residential development projects by fostering a stable workforce.

For the purposes of this section, “covered developer” means any person receiving economic development financial assistance or a tax abatement pursuant to the Long Term Tax Exemption Law

For the purposes of this section, “building service worker” shall include any janitor, porter, unarmed security guard, concierge, handy-person, superintendent, parking attendant, valet, pool attendant, gym attendant, spa attendant, lifeguard, groundskeeper, mailroom attendant, door person, building amenity service worker, or any other person performing work in connection with the care, securing, or maintenance of a building and who is employed at Covered Development Projects and Tax Abated Projects, including those employed or otherwise contracted by a tenant or subtenant of the covered developer.

For the purposes of this section, “economic development financial assistance” means assistance with an anticipated total value of at least one million dollars that is provided in whole or in part by the City to a business organization for the improvement or development of real property, economic development job retention and growth, or other similar purposes...

Economic development financial assistance shall also mean the sale of any property by the City at below market value

For the purposes of this section, "standard wage" means the greater of: 125% of the state minimum wage rate or 2) the hourly rate of pay for work performed within the City

under the collective bargaining agreement covering the largest number of hourly non-supervisory building service workers employed within Hudson County, provided the collective bargaining agreement covers no fewer than two hundred (200) employees.

Standard benefits shall be an hourly supplement furnished by a contractor to an employee in one of the following ways:

1) In the form of health and/or other fringe benefits, not including paid sick days or any other benefits already required by law, that cost the employer the entire required hourly supplement amount; 2) by providing a portion of the required hourly supplement in the form of health and/or other fringe benefits, not including paid sick days or any other benefits already required by law, and the balance in cash; or 3) by providing the entire supplement in cash.

Every covered developer shall be required to ensure that all building service workers employed at Covered Development Projects and Tax Abated Projects, including those employed by any and all tenants or subtenants of the covered developer, are paid not less than the standard compensation.

A material breach of any term a) an increase in the amount of the annual service charge of one percent (1%) of the estimated annual payment until the breach is cured; or b) a payment to the City of an amount equal to the greater of two percent (2%) of the annual value of the economic development subsidy or two-tenths of a percent (0.2%) of the total value of the economic development subsidy:

A material breach of this section that continues for a period of six (6) months or more, shall allow the City to terminate the tax abatement or economic development subsidy

Agenda Item 4.4 - Ordinance 25-057

INTRODUCTION – May 7, 2025 8-0

ADOPTION – May 21, 2025 9-0

VIDEO FROM COUNCIL: Councilperson Solomon remarks on 25-057

Ordinance Amending and Supplementing Chapter 218 (Multiple Dwellings), if the Code of Ordinances of the City of Jersey City by Adding New Section 12, Entitled “Preventing Algorithmic Rent-Fixing in the Rental Housing Market”

Councilperson Solomon reviewed the proposed ordinance, also referencing the recent antitrust lawsuit brought by the Office of the Attorney General against Real Page; this ordinance would ban the use of any similar platform.

Preventing Algorithmic Rent Fixing in the Rental Housing Market - “Coordinate” or contemporaneous termination and “coordinating” mean, prices, price renewal dates of changes, residential supply rates, or more collecting lease or real estate of historical or rental contract lessors or from with respect to a service provider, levels, occupancy dwelling units from two or more real estate lessors or from public databases;

Unlawful Conduct - It is unlawful for any real estate lessor, agent, or subcontractor thereof, to subscribe to, contract with, or otherwise exchange anything of value in return for the services of a service provider.

Public Enforcement - The Attorney General or any municipal or county attorney may bring a civil action, as parens patriae, in any court of competent jurisdiction, to secure relief as provided in this section for injury sustained by natural persons to their property by reason of a violation of this chapter.

Violations and Penalties - A first violation of § 218-12 shall be punishable as provided in Chapter 1, General Provisions, Art. I, $ 1-25. Subsequent violations shall be punished by a fine of not less than $100 and up to $2000, as provided in Chapter 1, General Provisions.

RESOLUTIONS

Agenda Item 10.2 - Resolution 25-328

ADOPTED – May 21, 2025 9-0

A Resolution adopting and ratifying the 2025-2026 budget of the Central Avenue Special Improvement District of the City of Jersey City.

2025 Caucus/Council Meeting Schedule Caucus (4 PM) and Council Meetings (6 PM) are held in-person at Council Chambers, unless otherwise noted. A recording will be uploaded on the city's Jersey City TV You Tube channel within 24-48 hours of each meeting. LIVESTREAM: All Municipal Council Caucuses and Meetings are streamed via Microsoft Teams. Public speakers must be present in person to speak at Council Meetings. Link to view Caucus Meeting via Microsoft Teams Link to view Council Meeting via Microsoft Teams

Link to Jersey City Online Permitting and Licensing Portal

Link to Jersey City Municipal Utilities Authorities (JCMUA) Link to JC Housing , Economic Development & Commerce

CITY COUNCIL AND WARDS

Joyce E. Watterman, Councilperson-at-Large, Council President Daniel Rivera, Councilperson-at-Large Amy DeGise, Councilperson-at-Large Denise Ridley, Councilperson, Ward A, President Pro Tempore Maureen Hulings, Councilperson, Ward B Richard Boggiano, Councilperson, Ward C Yousef J. Saleh, Councilperson, Ward D James Solomon, Councilperson, Ward E Frank E. Gilmore, Councilperson, Ward F Please contact me with any questions or concerns.

Wendy S. Paul, MPA Executive Director Jersey City Apartment Owners Association 344 Grove Street | Suite 189 | Jersey City, NJ 07302 tel: 551-430-0371 | wpaul@jcaoa.com