Recap Council Mtg. Wed., May 7, 2025 & Regular Mtg. of Jersey City Municipal Council

Click here for the May 7, 2025 Council Agenda

Next Caucus Meeting: Monday, May 19, 4 PM

Next Council Meeting: Wednesday, May 21, 6 PM

Council meeting began at 6:13 PM; adjourned at 8:46 PM. Council President Watterman absent; all other Councilpersons present.

FIRST READING

Agenda Item 3.1 - 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 3.2 - Ordinance 25-056

INTRODUCTION – May 7, 2025 8-0

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.

VIDEO: Councilperson Solomon remarks on 25-056

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 3.3 - Ordinance 25-057

INTRODUCTION – May 7, 2025 8-0

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.

VIDEO: Councilperson Solomon on 25-057

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.

SECOND READING

Agenda Item 4.2 - Ordinance 25-051

Introduced 8-0 April 23, 2025

Second Reading – May 7, 2025 8-0

An Ordinance authorizing an amendment to a dedication agreement between Grand & Jersey, LLC and the City of Jersey City for certain land and improvements located on a portion of Regent Street between Liberty View Drive and Douglas and Arthur Skinner Memorial Drive in the Liberty Harbor North Redevelopment Area.

Amends the dedication agreement for 88 Regent Street to replace Exhibits A and B of the dedication agreement with a new survey and a new metes and bounds description of the area to be dedicated as a public right of way

Agenda Item 4.3 - Ordinance 25-052

Introduced 8-0 April 23, 2025

Second Reading – May 7, 2025 8-0

An Ordinance amending Ordinance 25-010 updating the Construction Site Safety Manual with a 2024 Edition to (1) Include the installation requirements and maintenance for Air Pressurized Standpipes for buildings under construction or demolition and (2) Delete references to the 2019 Edition of the Construction Site Safety Manual.

Agenda Item 4.4 - Ordinance 25-053

Introduced 8-0 April 23, 2025

Second Reading – May 7, 2025 7-1 (Boggiano)

An Ordinance authorizing the conveyance of Block 11401, Lot 14, more commonly known by the street address of 247 First Street, to the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency.

The City of Jersey City (City) desires to convey the property to the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency (JCRA) for the purpose of promoting redevelopment and accomplishing the objectives of any applicable Redevelopment Plan.

RESOLUTIONS

Agenda Item 10.10 - Resolution 25-306

Council Vote – May 7, 2025 8-0 A Resolution Introducing and approving the 2025-2026 Budget of the Historic Downtown Special Improvement District; Directing the City Clerk to publicly advertise the budget and schedule a public hearing; and Directing the Tax Assessor to prepare an Assessment Roll of properties within the district based upon the budget.

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