The bond ordinance, which includes an allocation for public art, was the subject of discussion. Council members Ruben Ramos Jr. and Tiffanie Fisher voiced their reservations about approving such a significant sum without a detailed plan for the project or its potential impact on the community. Fisher proposed postponing the decision to allow time for a more comprehensive plan that would enhance the ground floors along Clinton Street. Echoing these sentiments, Councilman Michael DeFusco underscored the importance of seeing a detailed plan before authorizing such a large sum of money. He also raised concerns about the construction materials used in the past and suggested a broader conversation with the hospital regarding the garage’s lease. Despite these reservations, the Council voted in favor of the bond ordinance, with only DeFusco and Fisher voting against it. Councilwoman Emily Jabbour argued for the urgency of the project, citing the deteriorating condition of the garages and stressing the need to move forward with the rehabilitation.

The meeting also saw a debate about the responsibility of maintaining trees within the city. The City Council President raised concerns about the financial burden on homeowners of maintaining trees, suggesting that it should be the city’s responsibility. Other council members pointed out the potential liabilities the city could face if it took on the responsibility for tree maintenance, and proposed setting a dollar limit for homeowner responsibility, with the city taking over maintenance costs beyond that limit. The council ultimately decided to move forward with the ordinance and revisit the issue in the future.

Another significant item was the Council’s consideration of ordinances related to historic preservation and zoning. A local resident, Mr. Ahmed, raised concerns over a proposed ordinance regarding the definition of a public right of way in the context of historic preservation, arguing that the definition did not align with the traditional understanding and could have broader implications.

In a new development project, Councilwoman Tiffanie Fisher expressed concerns about the safety of the ground floor retail spaces and proposed changing the title of the Bond ordinance to include the council’s support for ground floor retail. This proposal was met with approval from the council members.

The Council also addressed a number of ordinances for introduction and resolution, including amendments to various chapters of the city code, and adopting a redevelopment plan for the Hoboken Housing Authority. Public comments ranged from urging the Council to support the “Back from the Brink” campaign, aimed at preventing nuclear war, to concerns about hate speech during a recent Zoom meeting.