In addition to the Immigration and Pollinator Month proclamations that were read, Maximillian Ansell of the Red Bank Troop 67 was recognized for achieving the rank of Eagle Scout. Ansell fulfilled leadership roles and completed several comprehensive service projects in the community with the help of family, friends, and other scouts.
One of his primary achievements was building 31 handcrafted signs to help repopulate specific indigenous tree species in Fair Haven Fields. Each sign, inscribed with the name of the tree and the Boy Scout emblem, will be installed in the near future.
RiverCenter 2024 Budget Presentation
The RiverCenter, a non-profit formed in 1991 to manage Red Bank’s Special Improvement District (SID), works with local businesses to promote Red Bank with many favorite events such as the Guinness Oysterfest, International Beer, Wine & Food Fest, Small Business Saturdays, Holiday Scavenger Hunt, and Street Fair, among others.
The success of these events enables them to make generous donations to charitable organizations serving Red Bank’s most vulnerable, including the Parker Health Clinic, Lunch Break, Red Bank Fire Department, Red Bank Public Library, Monmouth Day Care Center, and Riverview Medical Center, to name a few.
Bob Zuckerman, Executive Director of the RiverCenter, gave the council a verbal overview of the RiverCenter’s budget, clarifying, "We're discussing the assessment, not the complete budget."
Zuckerman recounted a conversation he had with the borough’s CFO, Tom Seaman, prior to his presentation of the RiverCenter’s complete budget. Seaman requested that he provide only an assessment, including revenue and all expenses, that aligns with the assessment revenue.
Zuckerman later stated that the RiverCenter’s budget (revenue plus expenses) is $857,470, noting that its revenue is derived from the businesses in the SID and events, not from residential taxpayers.
Highlights of the RiverCenter Presentation
Hiring a weekend maintenance person to keep the Broadwalk area clean
Increase spending on more art murals, with one being worked on now, across from the Ct. Basie Center
Work closely to bring back more “Streeteateries,” which are smaller restaurants and cafés located outside the Broadwalk district. These businesses could block off several parking spaces to set up tables for outside dining. The focus will be on offering more reasonable fees
In response to inquires from Councilpersons Nancy Facey-Blackwood and Ben Forest, installing bike racks throughout the town will become a priority
A new RiverCenter website is expected to be launched sometime in the Fall
The council voted to approve the RiverCenter’s assessment budget. See the picture carousel for details on their revenues and expenses.
Partial Overview of Approved Bond Ordinances
Marine Park improvements in the amount of $4,037,500 . The total appropriated sum was $4,250,000 which was offset by a required down payment to the State in the amount of $212,500. Improvements will be for engineering and design work, surveying, construction planning, environmental and other associated costs.
To read the Parks and Recreation Department’s Marine Park Improvement Project, click HERE .
Water and Sewer improvements in the amount of $2,273,702 . The total appropriated sum was $3,326,702 which was offset in the amount of $959,752 by a U.S. government grant. The borough was required to place a down payment of $93,248 to the State. Improvements will be for lead pipe removal and replacement on Harrison Ave., Linden Place, Allen Place, Hubbard Park, Alston Court and Marine Park
Road improvements in the amount of $1,458,329 . The total appropriated sum was $2,576,000 which was offset by a NJ Dept. of Transportation grant in the amount of $1,076,671. The borough was required to make a $41,000 down payment to the State. Streets to be milled and paved will include Harrison Ave., Linden Place, Chestnut Street, Bridge Ave., Drs. James Parker Blvd., River Street, Bodman Place, Hubbard Park, Alston Court, and Boat Club Way
Count Basie Park for improvements in the amount of $723,125 . The total appropriated sum was $1,357,000 which was offset by a NJ Green Acres grant of $577,875. The borough was required to make a $56,000 down payment to the State. Improvements include the rehabilitation of the home-side bleachers and press box
Streetscape improvements along portions of Shrewsbury Ave. in the amount of $200,000. The total appropriated sum was $1,700,000 which was offset by a North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority grant in the amount of $1,500,00
Short Term Rentals (STR)
A number of residents voiced their opinion asking for more specific language, such as discovering ownership of an STR, how to file a complaint and other concerns.
Deputy Mayor Kate Triggiano noted that in the previous STR ordinance, “Our prosecutor said it wasn’t enforceable as it was written. The last ordinance wasn’t holding up in municipal court (for those who challenged it). This ordinance fixes that and makes it only owner-occupied only.”
The council adopted the ordinance to revise the short-term rental (STR) regulations, now requiring that they may only operate in owner-occupied dwellings.
This includes one unit within a two-family residential dwelling, where the other unit is owner-occupied and serves as the owner's principal residence.
In a multi-family dwelling, up to two units may be used as short-term rentals, as long as one unit is owner-occupied and serves as the owner's principal residence.
At the last council meeting, Borough Attorney Greg Cannon stated, "The borough cannot ban short-term rentals (STRs); the courts have ruled that doing so would constitute a 'taking' of property. The best solution is to implement the owner-occupied regulation."
Cannon emphasized that all short-term rentals (STRs) must be registered with the borough. If an STR receives two violations, fines will be $2,500 per day for each day the violation continues. An owner convicted of three separate violations will be permanently banned from operating an STR.
Oversize Vehicle Parking Ordinance
The council passed an introduction ordinance that prohibits the overnight parking of oversized vehicles on public streets from 7:00pm to 7:00am.
The ordinance included the following key exclusionary points:
Oversized vehicles (see definition in the ordinance), with a gross vehicle weight exceeding 10,000 lbs.
All watercrafts
Hitched or unhitched trailers
Stretch limousines
Violators may have their vehicle impounded and storage costs will apply
The council agreed that they need to look more into the oversize trailers, with Borough attorney Greg Cannon saying that “Capt. Michael Frazee was going to talk to traffic safety and come up with some (suggestions), and we'd deal with the trailer issue next.
“It’s so that we don’t fall into an analysis – paralysis,” commented Deputy Mayor Triggiano, on why they were passing the ordinance now.
Video
To watch a video of the meeting, courtesy of Suzanne Viscomi, click HERE .
Agenda
To read the complete agenda that includes related documents by scrolling down, click HERE .
The next Regular Council meeting is scheduled for Thursday, June 13.
Government Definitions
Council Ordinances
An ordinance is any act or regulation of the council, except an expense budget or capital budget, required to be reduced to writing, published after introduction, and considered for final passage after a public hearing meeting after the meeting at which it was introduced.
Council Resolutions
Resolutions do not require formal advertisement or hearings, and are typically considered temporary as they lack the permanent enforceability of an Ordinance
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