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Councilmember proposes rent‑protection special investigation committee with capped timeline and public hearings

Jersey City Municipal Council Caucus · February 11, 2026

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Summary

Councilmember Gilmore introduced an ordinance to create a rent‑protection special investigative committee with at least five council members, a formal public‑meeting schedule, an internal report within 90 days and a final report within 180 days, and a maximum one‑year term; council debated timing, subpoena staffing and whether immediate enforcement should follow findings.

Councilmember Gilmore presented draft legislation to establish a Rent Protection Special Investigation Committee charged with reviewing landlord compliance, rent‑control enforcement and related matters. The draft includes a start date tied to the committee’s first convening, a requirement that the committee issue an internal report within 90 days and a final public report within 180 days, and a maximum committee term of 12 months with the option to extend.

Council debated logistics: frequency of meetings (proposal for monthly or every 30 days), whether meetings must be held during business hours when city employees can assist (legal/civil‑service concerns were raised), and public‑comment expectations during sunshine meetings. Corporation Counsel nominee Sarah M. Levine warned that the law department may face conflicts if the committee subpoenas city employees, because the law department represents both the city and those employees in official capacities; she committed to working in good faith to resolve such conflicts and flagged potential uncharted legal territory.

Council members discussed immediate remedies if the committee uncovers violations (fines, enforcement) versus awaiting the committee’s final report for recommendations. The council president and clerk agreed to coordinate the committee’s scheduling, livestreaming and minutes; the clerk said meetings could be recorded and archived similarly to council meetings.

Next steps: The ordinance and related documents will be circulated to council members and staff; the council will appoint members and set an initial convening date to begin work and produce interim and final reports.