CITY OF UNION CITY HUDSON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY UNION CITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
: : TRANSCRIPT OF RECORDED REGULAR MEETING : : PROCEEDINGS :
Union City High School Media Room 2500 Kennedy Boulevard Union City, New Jersey
Tuesday, April 20, 2021 Commencing at 4:32 p.m.
M E M B E R S P R E S E N T:
EVA FESTA, COMMISSIONER WILMER IZQUIERDO, COMMISSIONER CARLOS VALLEJO, COMMISSIONER LUCIO FERNANDEZ, CHAIRMAN
M E M B E R S A B S E N T:
VINCENT BONITO, COMMISSIONER PAUL CASPER, VICE CHAIRMAN
A L S O P R E S E N T:
KENNEDY NG, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
FLORIO, KENNY, RAVAL, LLP BY: ALEXANDER J. CORRADO, ESQ. Board Attorney
2 I N D E X
PAGE
CALL TO ORDER 3
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 3
ROLL CALL 4
AGENDA
1. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM THE MEETING OF FEBRUARY 16, 2021 6
2. APPROVAL AND RATIFICATION OF PRIOR PAYMENT OF CLAIMS 7
3. APPROVAL FOR THE PAYMENT OF BILLS AND PREPARATION OF CHECKS 7
4. REPORT ON STATUS OF PROJECTS 8
5. PUBLIC COMMENT 12
6. OTHER BUSINESS 15
ADJOURNMENT 16
3 1 MS. DILLON: On the record.
2 MR. NG: Okay.
3 Good afternoon, everybody.
4 Please take notice that on Tuesday, April
5 20, 2021, 4:30, a Regular Meeting is scheduled
6 for the Union City Redevelopment Agency to be
7 held in the Media Room of the Union City High
8 School, located 2500 John F. Kennedy Boulevard,
9 Union City, New Jersey.
10 Everyone in attendance will be required to
11 wear a mask and keep a safe social distance.
12 Residents who wish to submit public
13 comments in writing rather -- rather than in
14 person, may direct them to the Board Secretary --
15 emails [email protected] (sic) at least two hours
16 prior to the meeting.
17 The comments -- and comments/questions must
18 include the individual’s name and address, which
19 will be read into the record.
20 Please the flag salute.
21
22 (Whereupon, the Pledge of Allegiance was
23 said by all.)
24
25 MR. NG: Opening statement is adequate 4 1 notice of this meeting has been provided as
2 follows:
3 Notice of this meeting setting forth the
4 time, date, location, and the agenda, to the
5 extent known, was forwarded to The Jersey
6 Journal, The Record, and The Hudson Reporter, has
7 been post on the bulletin board in the City Hall
8 and has been made available to the public in the
9 Office of the Municipal Clerk.
10 And you’re going to do the roll call.
11 Yes?
12 MR. CORRADO: Yup.
13 Thank you, Kennedy.
14 MR. NG: Okay.
15
16 ROLL CALL:
17
18 MR. CORRADO: All right.
19 How’s everyone doing?
20 COMMISSIONER FESTA: All right.
21 COMMISSIONER IZQUIERDO: Okay.
22 MR. CORRADO: Let’s do roll call.
23 Fernandez?
24 CHAIRMAN FERNANDEZ: Here.
25 MR. CORRADO: Casper? 5 1 I don’t believe he’s here tonight.
2 Izquierdo?
3 COMMISSIONER IZQUIERDO: Yes.
4 MR. CORRADO: Festa?
5 COMMISSIONER FESTA: Here.
6 MR. CORRADO: Vallejo?
7 COMMISSIONER VALLEJO: Here.
8 MR. CORRADO: All right.
9 First --
10 CHAIRMAN FERNANDEZ: And Bonito.
11 Bonito.
12 MR. CORRADO: -- item on the agenda is the
13 Approval of --
14 CHAIRMAN FERNANDEZ: He -- he didn’t say --
15 MR. NG: Bonito.
16 CHAIRMAN FERNANDEZ: -- Bonito.
17 MR. CORRADO: -- the Minutes.
18 MR. NG: Mr. Bonito.
19 MR. CORRADO: Oh, and Bonito is not here.
20 Thank you.
21 MR. NG: And I will say that the Secretary,
22 Lady Jimenez, have -- had a medical appointment
23 that she couldn’t miss.
24 MR. CORRADO: Okay.
25 MR. NG: So, she’s excused. 6 1 MR. CORRADO: Thank you.
2
3 1. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM THE MEETING OF
4 FEBRUARY 16, 2021:
5
6 MR. CORRADO: Okay.
7 So the first item is the Approval of the
8 Minutes from the Meeting of February 16, 2021.
9 Do we have a motion?
10 COMMISSIONER FESTA: Motion.
11 MR. CORRADO: Is there a second?
12 COMMISSIONER IZQUIERDO: Second.
13 MR. CORRADO: Okay.
14 Fernandez?
15 CHAIRMAN FERNANDEZ: Yes.
16 MR. CORRADO: Casper’s absent -- absent.
17 Izquierdo?
18 COMMISSIONER IZQUIERDO: Yes.
19 MR. CORRADO: Festa?
20 COMMISSIONER FESTA: Yes.
21 MR. CORRADO: Bonito’s absent.
22 Vallejo?
23 COMMISSIONER VALLEJO: Yes.
24 MR. CORRADO: Okay.
25 Item number 1 passes. 7 1
2 2. APPROVAL AND RATIFICATION OF PRIOR PAYMENT
3 OF CLAIMS:
4
5 MR. CORRADO: Item number 2 is the Approval
6 and Ratification of Prior Payment of Claims.
7 Do we have motion?
8 COMMISSIONER FESTA: Motion.
9 MR. CORRADO: Second?
10 COMMISSIONER IZQUIERDO: Second.
11 MR. CORRADO: Fernandez?
12 CHAIRMAN FERNANDEZ: Yes.
13 MR. CORRADO: Casper’s absent.
14 Izquierdo?
15 COMMISSIONER IZQUIERDO: Yes.
16 MR. CORRADO: Festa?
17 COMMISSIONER FESTA: Yes.
18 MR. CORRADO: Bonito’s absent.
19 Vallejo?
20 COMMISSIONER VALLEJO: Yes.
21 MR. CORRADO: All right.
22 Item number 2 passes.
23
24 3. APPROVAL FOR THE PAYMENT OF BILLS AND
25 PREPARATION OF CHECKS: 8 1
2 MR. CORRADO: Item number 3 is the Approval
3 for the Payment of Bills and Preparation of
4 Checks.
5 Do we have a motion?
6 COMMISSIONER FESTA: Motion.
7 MR. CORRADO: Second?
8 COMMISSIONER IZQUIERDO: Second.
9 MR. CORRADO: Okay.
10 Fernandez?
11 CHAIRMAN FERNANDEZ: Yes.
12 MR. CORRADO: Casper’s absent.
13 Izquierdo?
14 COMMISSIONER IZQUIERDO: Yes.
15 MR. CORRADO: Festa?
16 COMMISSIONER FESTA: Yes.
17 MR. CORRADO: Bonito is absent.
18 Vallejo?
19 COMMISSIONER VALLEJO: Yes.
20 MR. CORRADO: Okay.
21 Item number 3 passes.
22
23 4. REPORT ON STATUS OF PROJECTS:
24
25 MR. CORRADO: All right. 9 1 Now we have a Report on the Status of
2 Projects.
3 I have one just quick update. It’s on 2704
4 Kennedy Boulevard.
5 So, as you guys are aware, that one was
6 supposed to turn into a hotel. COVID hit. It’s
7 not viable anymore.
8 The developer’s attorney, Bianca Pereiras,
9 reached out to me. She and her clients are
10 pushing for the original idea, which is to build
11 several three family homes.
12 Right now it’s out of our court. It’s --
13 the City Attorney is -- is handling that matter
14 and is dealing directly with the developer’s
15 attorney.
16 That’s as much information that I have at
17 this point.
18 The City Attorney did advise that,
19 hopefully later this month, we’ll have a little
20 bit more information that we can share.
21 But at this point, that’s where we’re at
22 right now.
23 Like I mentioned, the hotel idea was
24 something that the City was in favor of. Maybe
25 that can be something that’s, you know, pursued 10 1 later on but right now it’s not a viable option.
2 So, I have no other information on that
3 project and haven’t had any other updates on the
4 other projects.
5 Does anyone have any other questions --
6 MR. NG: Yeah.
7 MR. CORRADO: -- or have any questions?
8 MR. NG: Just as Alex said, the -- the
9 Administration was in favor of the hotel.
10 You participate in a couple meetings and --
11 and we were all happy about the hotel because it
12 was a good asset to the City, in -- in general.
13 But, as he said, I know Bianca been calling
14 everybody.
15 MR. CORRADO: Yeah.
16 MR. NG: She call me. Then I refer the
17 call to the lawyers and they’re going to be
18 working -- Alex and the -- the Scarinci firm.
19 MR. CORRADO: Yup.
20 MR. NG: So, any other things are like --
21 MR. CORRADO: Um-hum.
22 COMMISSIONER FESTA: So it’s not considered
23 Redevelopment anymore?
24 MR. CORRADO: So it -- it could come back
25 before this Agency. 11 1 But at this point, the -- the ball’s kind
2 of out of our court right now. That’s -- that’s
3 in the City Attorney’s jurisdiction at this
4 point. So he’s dealing directly with the
5 developer’s attorney.
6 COMMISSIONER FESTA: Okay.
7 MR. CORRADO: So as soon as they come to
8 some sort of resolution or decision, he’ll let me
9 know and then we can kind of move forward from
10 there, so.
11 MR. NG: It’s not that easy.
12 Because, remember, we went through the
13 traffic study, --
14 CHAIRMAN FERNANDEZ: Um-hum.
15 MR. NG: -- all these things that we did.
16 And then having three family houses and --
17 and changing the project like 300 percent is not
18 that easy. Is different issues.
19 MR. CORRADO: So if nobody has any other
20 questions, do we have a motion to accept the
21 status of the projects?
22 CHAIRMAN FERNANDEZ: Motion.
23 COMMISSIONER IZQUIERDO: Motion.
24 MR. CORRADO: Okay.
25 Fernandez? 12 1 CHAIRMAN FERNANDEZ: Yes.
2 MR. CORRADO: Casper’s absent.
3 Izquierdo?
4 COMMISSIONER IZQUIERDO: Yes.
5 MR. CORRADO: Festa?
6 COMMISSIONER FESTA: Yes.
7 MR. CORRADO: And Bonito’s absent.
8 Commissioner Vallejo?
9 COMMISSIONER VALLEJO: Yes.
10 MR. CORRADO: Okay.
11 Item number 4 passes.
12
13 5. PUBLIC COMMENT:
14
15 MR. CORRADO: I don’t think we have any
16 comments from the public.
17 MR. NG: Yeah, but before --
18 Yeah, one of the Commissioner, he prefer
19 not to have the meeting in person but the
20 Administration want the meeting to be in person
21 little by little.
22 We keeping all the distance, you know,
23 everything under the law.
24 So I don’t see -- I don’t see an -- an
25 issue for not having the meeting in person. 13 1 I mean everything is coming along to be
2 normal.
3 So and then we have to -- to, you know, to
4 cooperate with -- with that.
5 Any of you have any -- any issue in having
6 the meeting in person?
7 CHAIRMAN FERNANDEZ: No.
8 COMMISSIONER FESTA: No.
9 COMMISSIONER IZQUIERDO: No. I okay -- I’m
10 okay.
11 MR. NG: Okay.
12 MR. CORRADO: No. No problem. I mean
13 we’re all socially distanced --
14 MR. NG: We’re --
15 MR. CORRADO: -- and --
16 MR. NG: Yeah.
17 Well, we’re going to be trying probably --
18 Lady told me this morning that she will try
19 to have the meeting in person and then for those
20 that cannot make it or they refuse to do it.
21 So probably we’re going to do like a
22 section by, you know, having the computer here
23 and do Zoom meeting --
24 MR. CORRADO: Yup.
25 MR. NG: -- for that person. 14 1 MR. CORRADO: Yup.
2 That sounds good.
3 Okay.
4 So do we have a motion to close out the
5 Public Comment portion?
6 CHAIRMAN FERNANDEZ: Motion.
7 MR. CORRADO: Second?
8 COMMISSIONER IZQUIERDO: Second.
9 COMMISSIONER FESTA: Second.
10 MR. CORRADO: Fernandez?
11 CHAIRMAN FERNANDEZ: Yes.
12 MR. CORRADO: Casper’s absent.
13 Izquierdo?
14 COMMISSIONER IZQUIERDO: Yes.
15 MR. CORRADO: Festa?
16 COMMISSIONER FESTA: Yes.
17 MR. CORRADO: Bonito’s absent.
18 Vallejo?
19 COMMISSIONER VALLEJO: Yes.
20 MR. CORRADO: All right.
21 Item number 5 passes.
22
23 6. ANY SUCH OTHER BUSINESS AS MAY COME BEFORE
24 THE BOARD:
25 15 1 MR. CORRADO: And is there any Other
2 Business that you would like to discuss before
3 the meeting’s adjourned?
4 MR. NG: We’re good.
5 MR. CORRADO: Good?
6 Okay.
7
8 ADJOURNMENT:
9
10 CHAIRMAN FERNANDEZ: Make a motion to close
11 the meeting.
12 MR. CORRADO: Second?
13 COMMISSIONER VALLEJO: Second.
14 MR. CORRADO: Fernandez?
15 CHAIRMAN FERNANDEZ: Yes.
16 MR. CORRADO: Casper’s absent.
17 Izquierdo?
18 COMMISSIONER IZQUIERDO: Yes.
19 MR. CORRADO: Festa?
20 COMMISSIONER FESTA: Yes.
21 MR. CORRADO: Bonito -- Bonito’s absent.
22 Vallejo?
23 COMMISSIONER VALLEJO: Yes.
24 MR. CORRADO: Okay.
25 Meeting’s adjourned. 16 1 Thank you, everybody.
2 MR. NG: Thank you.
3
4 (Whereupon, the proceedings were concluded
5 at 4:40 p.m.)
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25 17 1 STATE OF NEW JERSEY:
2 :
3 COUNTY OF ESSEX :
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5 I, KAREN A. MARINO, assigned transcriber,
6 do hereby affirm that the foregoing is a true and
7 accurate transcript in the matter of the REGULAR
8 MEETING of the UNION CITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY,
9 heard on Tuesday, April 20, 2021 and digitally
10 recorded.
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25 Monitored and Proofread by: Deborah Dillon