The council’s meeting was dominated by residents’ concerns over safety issues stemming from traffic congestion and inappropriate student activities linked to Red Bank Regional High School. Residents shared incidents of students engaging in disruptive behavior, including smoking marijuana, engaging in sexual activities in parked cars, and aggressive interactions with locals. The traffic situation, exacerbated by illegal parking and double-parking, poses significant risks, especially during school drop-off and pick-up times. Multiple residents recounted instances where they were unable to exit their driveways or faced aggressive behavior from students and parents.

One resident, Colin Burns, highlighted the deteriorating parking conditions around the school, emphasizing the urgency of the matter by stating, “We have kids street racing. We have kids,” indicating the potential for serious accidents. Burns advocated for permanent speed limit signs and a permit parking system to bring order to the chaotic dismissal times. Another resident, TJ Krueger, echoed these concerns, calling for a coordinated response from the council and the school district to address the safety risks and disrespectful behavior linked to school traffic.

The conversation extended to the need for better traffic management solutions. Suggestions included restricting school traffic to right turns only at main entrances to alleviate congestion. Despite repeated outreach efforts to the school district and the county, residents expressed frustration over the lack of engagement and responses to their concerns. The need for a collaborative approach, involving both internal policies and external partnerships with the school district and county officials, was underscored to effectively tackle the growing problem.

In a separate issue, the local deer population has become a source of distress for residents, as highlighted by Ralph Kane, a long-time resident. Kane detailed the damage inflicted on his property by deer, including the destruction of newly planted trees and the health risks posed by ticks, which led to a family member contracting Lyme disease. Despite protective measures like wire mesh, Kane’s efforts to safeguard his yard have been largely unsuccessful.

The council acknowledged the deer problem, referencing a recent report reviewed by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Discussions are ongoing regarding potential solutions, including a controlled hunt, as the cost of tranquilizing and relocating deer is prohibitively expensive. Kane stressed the urgency of the issue, warning that without decisive action, the deer population would continue to grow, posing increasing risks to both property and personal safety.

During the meeting, the council also addressed infrastructure projects, notably improvements to Cambridge Avenue. A grant of $272,000 was awarded to cover new curbs, sidewalks, ADA improvements, milling, and paving, with the bond ordinance set to cover any additional costs. However, the project will not include major drainage improvements, despite a review of existing systems during execution.

Further discussions included amendments to stormwater management regulations and commercial filming fees. The council approved Ordinance 2025-9, which increases the threshold for stormwater management requirements from 250 square feet to 400 square feet. This change aims to reduce the financial burden on residents while ensuring effective management of stormwater. Additionally, the council proposed updates to chapter 4, increasing commercial filming fees to align with neighboring municipalities.