Jersey City Council approves several ordinances, adds 30-year tax-exemption introduction; cannabis support resolution defeated

The Jersey City Municipal Council opened its Wednesday meeting with roll call, a moment of silence, and an administrative motion to add a tax-exemption ordinance to the agenda. The council then moved through introductions and second readings, adopting several ordinances and voting on a slate of resolutions.

Key outcomes at a glance:

Votes at a glance

- Addition to the agenda: Motion to add item 3.16 (City Ordinance 25-044, a proposed 30-year tax exemption for JHRC Senior Housing LLC concerning 259 Van Nostrand Avenue) carried. Motion: made by Councilperson Saleh; seconded by Councilperson Ridley. Vote recorded as carried 7-0 with Councilpersons Solomon and Rivera absent.

- Introductions (first reading): Items 3.1–3.16 (with 3.1, 3.3 and 3.8 withdrawn) were introduced on first reading by the council (vote recorded as 8-0, Councilperson Rivera absent for roll call earlier; transcript shows introduction and recorded “aye” votes).

- Second-reading adoptions and procedural votes: - City Ordinance 25-025 (amendment relating to accepting condominium units at 155 Bay Street): adopted on final reading, vote 8-0. - City Ordinance 25-026: carried to the April 9 meeting on motion (vote 8-0). - City Ordinance 25-027 (amend chapter 160 fees and charges to include a fee for use of the city’s de-escalation center): adopted on final reading, vote 8-0. - City Ordinance 25-028 (amendments regulating mobile food vendors and fees for reserved downtown spaces): adopted on final reading, vote 6-2 (Councilperson Prince and Council President Waterman voted no). - City Ordinance 25-003 (increase number of part-time municipal judges from 5 to 6): un-tabled and adopted on final reading, vote 8-0. - Several other ordinances were carried or tabled as noted at caucus (for example, 25-005 carried to April 23; 25-018 tabled prior to public hearing).

- Resolutions: The council voted on multiple resolution blocks. Notable votes included: - Resolution 25-193 (recognizing Jolie Ariel Morales for passing an Eagle Board of Review): approved, 8-0. - A resolution in support of a proposed cannabis retailer (resolution 25-216 / item 10.29 for Kind Buds at 545 Newark Ave) was defeated: vote recorded as 1 in favor (Councilperson Ridley), 5 opposed, 2 abstentions (Councilperson Prinzary and Council President Waterman). Other resolutions in blocks 10.1–10.13, 10.14–10.23 (except withdrawn items), and 10.25–10.28 passed as a block by the council (votes recorded in transcript as 8-0 on most blocks).

- Claims: Claims and addendum number 1 were approved 8-0.

What the ordinances cover

The ordinances taken up Wednesday covered a mix of planning, public-right-of-way rules, community-garden leases, parking and traffic changes, fees for city services and procedural changes. Staff noted the following specific items in either first or final reading: - A franchise ordinance for Liberty Harbor North Partners LLC to allow bay windows and an awning to encroach on the public right-of-way at Block 15907 Lot 3 (introductory notice). - Multiple community garden lease renewals and new leases (Brunswick Community Gardens, Dwight Street Block Association, Greater Neighborhood Alliance sponsored gardens, Mandela Gardens, Ogden’s End Community Gardens) were introduced for first reading. - An ordinance adopting amendments to the Chapel Avenue Industrial Park redevelopment plan (item 3.15) was introduced for first reading. - Ordinance 25-044 (item 3.16) was added to the agenda; that item requests a 30-year tax exemption under the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Act and NJSA 55:14K-1 et seq.; council members voted to introduce the item for first reading but asked for additional information during subsequent debate.

Council comments and follow up

Council members repeatedly said they would seek clarifications or additional documentation on some items (for example, Councilperson Gilmore requested more detail on the 30-year tax exemption item 3.16). Staff and the business-administration team confirmed that several items had been revised after caucus and that withdrawn items would not be read into the record.

Legal citations and process

The chair opened the meeting by certifying compliance with the New Jersey Open Public Meetings Act (NJ public laws 1975, chapter 231) and noting the agenda was posted and distributed in advance. When the council acted on ordinances and resolutions, votes were recorded verbally in the transcript; staff clarified procedural votes like carriage to future meetings, tabling prior to a public hearing, and withdrawals.

Ending: The council completed votes on the major blocks of resolutions, approved claims, and adjourned at 8:30 p.m. Staff said they would correct a clerical math error on one resolution (a per-evaluation cost discrepancy) and circulate the change.