Newark Council adopts dockless-vehicle licensing, approves wastewater share and several contracts; Fulton Street abatement deferred

The Newark Municipal Council on April 16 adopted a series of measures on first reading and approved contracts and temporary appropriations while deferring and amending a proposed 30‑year tax abatement for a Fulton Street project.

Council meetings opened with public comment that repeatedly returned to housing, tax abatements and homelessness; several speakers asked the council to provide stronger oversight of development incentives and to revive housing‑focused committees. During the formal business portion the council advanced ordinances and votes that city officials said they need to keep operations running until the 2025 budget is adopted.

Council members voted to advance an ordinance creating a licensing chapter for dockless vehicles used in commercial deliveries. Councilman Ramos sponsored that ordinance, and Councilman Kelly seconded it; Councilman Silva, who worked on the draft, said the new rule should give police “another tool in your toolbox” to address unsafe delivery behavior and make sidewalks safer for pedestrians. The ordinance passed on first reading and is scheduled for public hearing and second reading on May 7.

The council also adopted an ordinance appropriating $1,445,000 as the city’s allocable share of capital improvement projects for the Joint Meeting of Essex and Union Counties (the regional wastewater authority). Council members and staff described the appropriation as the local portion to pay for joint‑meeting improvements carried out after storms and explained the item in response to a resident question. Councilman Ramos summarized that the funds pay Newark’s portion for improvements that protect treatment plants and downstream water quality.

Several purchasing contracts and program agreements were approved, including contracts to replace elevators in three Department of Health buildings, a declaration of emergency for animal impound and sheltering services, purchases of fire apparatus and equipment, a contract to operate a second Hope Village homeless services site, and language‑access (interpretation/translation) services. The council also adopted temporary emergency appropriations to provide operating funds until the 2025 budget is finalized and to fund the 2025 summer youth employment program.

On development incentives, the council amended the agenda item for a 30‑year tax abatement for Fulton Street Newark LLC (removing proposed contributions to two city trust funds) and deferred the measure for further consideration. Separately, the council advanced a 25‑year tax abatement for a West Ward mixed‑use project by Newark Portfolio Urban Renewal LLC; that item generated extensive public testimony from residents and tenant organizers who said abatements should be paired with enforceable commitments on affordable units and local hiring.

Public comment at length pressed elected officials on housing quality, tenant organizing, homelessness, and the city’s use of tax abatements. Tenant organizer Felicia Austin Singleton said, “We need a housing committee meeting to address Pilgrim Village, Georgia King Village,” and urged the council to restore a standing committee focused on housing enforcement. In response to claims about an investigation into pipe‑replacement work and unpaid contractors, Corporation Counsel Kenyatta Stewart told the council the city “was a victim of a crime” and had cooperated with federal investigators.

Council President Crump (recorded in the transcript as President Trump) and administration officials said the city is working to present a full 2025 operating budget in coming weeks; Business Administrator Eric Pennington said the administration is aiming to finalize the budget before the end of the calendar year but that some estimates — including the property revaluation — will not be resolved until 2026. Director Kareem Adeim of the Water and Sewer Department said the department has not spent the $1.3 billion that older studies cited as a long‑term funding need and described recent plant upgrades that are near completion.

The meeting closed after additional council business, including adoption of several small property‑sale resolutions and the approval of BID/SID budgets. Council members asked the administration for follow‑up briefings on code enforcement, DPW street‑sweeper and collection capacity, and the city’s permitting and oversight for tax‑abated development.

Votes at a glance - Dockless‑vehicle licensing ordinance (first reading): Sponsor: Councilman Luis Ramos; Second: Councilman Kelly. Outcome: adopted on first reading; public hearing scheduled May 7. - Joint Meeting capital appropriation: $1,445,000 appropriation for local share of Essex/Union joint meeting capital improvements. Outcome: adopted. - Fulton Street 30‑year tax abatement (Fulton Street Newark LLC): Amended on the floor (removed proposed contributions to two trust funds) and deferred for further consideration. Outcome: amended and deferred. - West Ward 25‑year tax abatement (Newark Portfolio Urban Renewal LLC): Advanced on first reading after public comment. Outcome: adopted on first reading. - Temporary emergency appropriations (operating cashflow and summer youth program): Adopted. - Purchasing/contracts: Elevator replacement (Department of Health), emergency animal impound services, three fire apparatus purchases, Hope Village 2 operator for homeless services, interpretation/translation services and related vendor awards. Outcome: adopted (multiple items).

What comes next Several ordinances advanced on first reading will return for public hearing and final passage at a future regular meeting (May 7 or soon thereafter). The administration indicated it will continue work to complete the 2025 operating budget and to provide additional briefings to the council on DPW capacity, vendor oversight, and tax‑abatement monitoring.

Direct quotes (from the meeting transcript) - Councilman Scott Silva: “Hopefully this will give the police another tool in your toolbox.” - Corporation Counsel Kenyatta Stewart: “The city was a victim of a crime. The city was completely involved with the investigation…” - Tenant organizer Felicia Austin Singleton: “We need a housing committee meeting to address Pilgrim Village, Georgia King Village, and another building.”

Meeting context and participation The meeting included an extended public‑comment period with dozens of speakers. Many residents raised housing, homelessness, and development oversight as central concerns. Council members repeatedly asked the administration for data and follow‑up reports (budget timing, DPW resources, permits and enforcement for abated projects). The council paused several development incentives for further review; at least one abatement item was deferred for changes requested on the floor.