Bayonne council adopts multiple ordinances, approves $3.5 million for Peninsula waterfront walkway

The Bayonne City Council on April 16 adopted a series of second‑reading ordinances and approved contracts and redevelopment actions, including a $3.5 million appropriation for construction and improvements to the Hudson River waterfront walkway in the Peninsula area.

Council members voted on and passed multiple ordinances by roll call after public hearings. The measures approved at the meeting included adoption of redevelopment plans, amendments to municipal code chapters, and a capital appropriation for the waterfront walkway project. The council also approved professional services contracts and other routine resolutions included on the consent calendar.

Votes at a glance

- O1 — Ordinance adopting the redevelopment plan for 415 Agnes Street (Block 232, Lot 10). Moved by the council president; seconded by Council Member Perez. Final passage: Booker — aye; Carroll — aye; Perez — aye; Reimer/Weimer — aye; LaPalouse — aye. (Public comment during the hearing included concerns about parking near the development.)

- O2 — Capital ordinance appropriating $3,500,000 for construction and improvements to a portion of the Hudson River waterfront walkway on the Peninsula. Moved by the council president; seconded by Carroll. Final passage: Booker — aye; Carroll — aye; Perez — aye; Reimer/Weimer — aye; LaPalouse — aye. (A member of the public urged the council to consider kayak access when planning the walkway.)

- O3 — Ordinance amending Chapter 19 (Fire Prevention and Protection) to define lithium‑ion batteries and certain mobility devices and to create a registration requirement and fee for storage of specified batteries. Moved by the council president; seconded as noted on the record. Final passage: unanimous roll call.

- O4–O11 — Multiple ordinances amending chapters on licensing and registration, administration, traffic (including restrictive parking zones), and other municipal code sections. Each ordinance was given second reading, opened for public comment (none or no objections filed for many), and ordered for final passage by unanimous roll call.

Contract and resolution highlights

- R (planning professional services) — Amended agreement with Clark Keaton for Council on Affordable Housing work, Jan. 1–Dec. 31, 2025; contract amount not to exceed $200,000. Passed by roll call (Booker, Carroll, Perez, Weimer/Reimer, LaPalouse — ayes).

- R (environmental consulting) — Agreement with Montrose Environmental Solutions Inc. for developer/redeveloper environmental consulting, April 1–Dec. 31, 2025; amount not to exceed $200,000. Passed by roll call.

- R (environmental consulting) — Agreement with Montrose Environmental Solutions Inc. for the city’s work, April 16–Dec. 31, 2025; amount not to exceed $50,000. Passed by roll call.

- R (legal services for COAH) — Agreement with Iglisino Taylor LLC for professional legal services for the Council on Affordable Housing, Jan. 1–Dec. 31, 2025; amount not to exceed $75,000. Passed by roll call.

- OR1 — Vendor payments report from the CFO (Donna L. Mower) and authorization to pay claims. Passed by roll call.

Redevelopment and planning actions

The council moved multiple preliminary investigations, conditional designations and authorizations to prepare redevelopment plans (items listed at the meeting as O8–O15 and related resolutions). Those measures set public hearings or directed planning‑board action for properties across the city; council members moved and seconded each measure and the roll calls recorded unanimous ayes where noted.

Why it matters

The capital appropriation for the waterfront walkway and the multiple redevelopment actions shape planned public‑realm investments and private development in Bayonne. The adopted Chapter 19 amendment adds a regulatory path for the fire department to track certain battery storage — a change the council said is intended to address fire‑safety risk for newer battery technologies.

What council members said and next steps

Council members recorded unanimous votes on the packet and ordered final passage for the ordinances noted above. Several redevelopment resolutions were scheduled for public hearings in May, and professional services contracts have defined expiration dates and not‑to‑exceed totals noted at the meeting.

Votes and motions in the council record above are taken from the April 16, 2025 meeting transcript and roll‑call statements recorded on the public record.