Hoboken approves $2.2 million for new HOP shuttles and loading-zone cameras, plus a new garbage truck

The Hoboken City Council on Wednesday night approved a $2.2 million bond to replace two aging HOP shuttles and buy smart loading-zone cameras and parking wayfinding signs. The vote was 7–2. Members also approved a new garbage truck, repealed the outdoor amplified-sound permit tied to the Pier 13 dispute, and changed how the council handles new ordinances.

Here is what passed at the Oct. 7 meeting, starting with the biggest item.

1. $2.2 million for HOP shuttles and loading-zone cameras

The parking utility bond (J-78), sponsored by Councilman Steve Firestone, authorizes up to $2.2 million in borrowing. About $1 million will replace two HOP shuttle buses. Councilman Phil Cohen said the buses are more than 12 years old with more than 150,000 miles each, and that the goal is to replace them with electric vehicles.

The other $1.2 million is for what Transportation and Parking Director Ryan Sharp called a “curb management technology” package. Sharp said the main piece is cameras for a smart loading-zone program. The goal is to manage quick pickups, drop-offs and food deliveries in business districts. The package also includes real-time digital signs that would steer drivers to open spaces in city garages. Sharp said the loading-zone system would charge a small per-minute fee, possibly after a grace period, and that the council would set the rules and fees after the bond is adopted.

Several members said the money was coming before the plan. “It feels a little like it’s the cart coming before the horse on the loading zones,” said Councilwoman Tiffanie Fisher, who voted yes. Councilwoman Diane Imus also voted yes. She said she supports the concept but would not have backed it if the administration could roll out the program without the council first voting on an ordinance. Asked when that loading-zone ordinance would come to the council, the administration answered: “Hopefully by the end of the year.”

Councilmen Paul Presinzano and Michael Russo voted no. Both said they would support the shuttle purchase on its own but not the $1.2 million for cameras without a full plan. Russo pointed to the Grand Street bike lane pilot as a reason for caution. Voting yes were Cohen, Firestone, Fisher, Imus, Councilwoman Caitlin Layson, Councilman Joseph Quintero and Council President Ruben Ramos Jr.

2. A new garbage truck, about $638,000

The council approved the two parts of one new diesel garbage truck. The Western Star chassis from Hudson County Motors costs $346,592 (I-1), and the rear-load body from Sanitation Equipment Corp. costs $291,261.34 (I-2). That totals about $637,853, funded through a previously adopted bond. City staff explained that the chassis and body come from two different vendors under two different cooperative purchasing contracts. Presinzano and Russo voted no.

3. Outdoor amplified-sound permit repealed

The council repealed the city’s outdoor amplified-sound permit, Section 133-13 of the noise code (J-86). It was the rule at the center of the dispute with Pier 13 on the waterfront. Fisher, who sponsored the original permit, voted for the repeal. She said the city has reached out to the state Department of Environmental Protection, which oversees noise rules on the waterfront, and that the goal is to bring back a new approach in time for next summer.

The debate got personal. Cohen said Fisher had told the council “she personally called the police 32 times on this business, personally. So it seemed personal to me.” Fisher answered that on weekend party nights Pier 13 accounts for “literally one out of every five” noise complaints, and said of Cohen: “Tonight, all he wants to do is say I’m a terrible person. That’s who Councilman Cohen is.”

4. Tom Olivieri Park bids rejected; project to be rebid

As part of the consent agenda, the council rejected the bids for the Tom Olivieri Park improvements project (I-5). Responding to residents, members said the project is not being dropped. “The bids were much higher than anticipated,” it was explained from the dais, and new bids are expected to be issued in the near future so the park can be rehabilitated.

5. Northwest redevelopment, curbside changes and loading zones

The council adopted on second reading:

• an amendment to the Northwest Industrial Redevelopment Plan (J-82);
• curbside changes on 13th Street between Washington Street and Willow Avenue, and on 3rd Street between Hudson and River streets (J-83);
• a new loading zone on Jefferson Street and an adjusted loading zone on Clinton Street (J-84).

6. Council rules: ordinance discussion yes, rotating votes no

Fisher, Imus and Presinzano sponsored a package of council rule changes. One of them (CL4) passed 7–2, with Cohen and Ramos voting no. It moves first-reading ordinances to the top of the meeting and allows council discussion of proposed laws before they are introduced.

A second proposal (CL3) would have rotated the roll-call voting order at each meeting. It failed, with Cohen, Firestone, Layson, Quintero and Russo voting no. Quintero said he had changed his position at the last minute after talking with colleagues and staff. Fisher noted that he had told her the week before that he would back it.

7. Consent agenda

The consent agenda passed. Russo said he was voting no on the pay and overtime items and yes on the rest. Among the items approved:

• an energy-efficiency agreement with PSE&G for HVAC and lighting upgrades at the Multi-Service Center ($793,572.30);
• a $374,320 engineering and grant-support contract with Colliers Engineering tied to a $1.217 million EPA grant for roadway raising and water main work on Jefferson and 16th streets;
• a fire vehicle donation to Hoboken’s sister city in the Dominican Republic.

8. Introduced, and carried to Oct. 21

The council introduced on first reading an ordinance creating a new “Willow Terrace Residential Preservation” zoning district, which was also referred to the Planning Board. Imus said it would allow only one dwelling per lot and bar combining lots, to protect the neighborhood’s character. Also introduced: changes to the rules on tobacco vending machines, building heating, the health code, mobile food vendors and business license fees.

Carried to the Oct. 21 meeting: the two tenant-notification ordinances (J-72 and J-75), the rooftop-appurtenance zoning change (J-85), and an environmental review contract for the Hoboken Housing Authority (CD-2).

Also at the meeting

• Grand Street bike lane: The administration said the Grand Street pilot ends in early November. It said it is collecting data and will present the data and options to the council then. Russo said he is “confident there are five votes on this council” against continuing the bike lane there.
• 15th and Hudson: Fisher said a driver ran the stop sign at 15th and Hudson streets last Friday night and hit a pedestrian. The woman was hospitalized with serious injuries and has since been released, Fisher said. She said the administration announced quick safety fixes at the intersection, including repainted crosswalks, a flashing stop sign and brighter stop signs.
• The Green Room: Workers and supporters of The Green Room, a hemp and CBD shop near City Hall, asked the council for a letter of support so the business can seek a cannabis license. One speaker said that because of changes to hemp rules, the shop will have to close in December unless something changes. The council took no action on the request.

Watch the full meeting

Hudson TV asks: Smart loading-zone cameras on Washington Street: a real fix for double-parking, or another CLEAR-style camera headache?
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Image: City of Hoboken livestream; graphic: Hudson TV.