The meeting commenced with a detailed presentation regarding a cannabis retail establishment application from a company called Mo Weed. Moses Sutton and Britney Bennett, representing Mo Weed, outlined their business proposal and community involvement. Sutton, a local entrepreneur, shared the history of Mo Weed, which initially focused on CBD and hemp products and now aims to transition into a legal cannabis dispensary in the South Ward. Bennett, the CEO, elaborated on their mission, highlighting their service to over 40,000 customers and their operation of a food pantry funded by donations. She emphasized their commitment to community service, including plans to host expungement clinics to assist individuals with cannabis-related arrests in clearing their records and to donate 10% of profits to local mental health organizations. Safety measures were discussed, including partnerships with security agencies and local police for operational security.

During the presentation, Councilwoman Jennifer Williams raised a question about Mo Weed’s current advertising and product offerings, leading Sutton to clarify that they were only selling legally permissible CBD products and were not currently engaging in billboard advertising. The timeline for launching the cannabis dispensary was also addressed, with Sutton expressing hope for a launch by the end of the year, contingent upon council support.

Following the cannabis dispensary discussion, the council opened the floor to public comments. Veronica Deon shared a personal experience of being threatened by a group of approximately 50 children on bicycles, who blocked traffic and harassed her vehicle. Deon urged the council to take proactive measures to address the issue and prevent similar incidents in the future. In response, a council member acknowledged the “terrifying” nature of such incidents and called for the Trenton Police Department to investigate further, emphasizing the need for more police officers and resources.

Another prominent topic during the public comment period was the lack of progress on a promised soccer field in East Trenton. W. Marono, a community activist, voiced concerns over the absence of basic facilities like bathrooms and appealed for attention to the needs of the community, highlighting that many children currently play without adequate amenities. Marono’s comments were echoed by another speaker who emphasized the urgency of completing the soccer field project, noting that it had been two years since the promise was made.

Parking issues were a recurring theme throughout the meeting, with multiple business owners sharing their frustrations over parking tickets affecting local commerce. One business owner described how customers frequently received tickets while attempting to patronize their establishments, stating, “they really give it tickets to these people,” and noting that this harassment was detrimental to business. Another business owner echoed these sentiments, pointing out that “almost all of them have a ticket in a SE area,” indicating the volume of tickets issued. The pleas underscored a common frustration: the need for more flexible parking regulations to support local businesses. Luis Del La Cruz, a business owner, explained the challenges, stating, “the area is too many business in there,” and asked for help to address the parking issues impacting both businesses and customers.

The council also discussed the Locust Hill Project, presented by Alanan Ward, who expressed support for a resolution to accept state funds for this initiative. Ward highlighted the project team’s long-standing commitment, noting the successful acquisition of $400,000 in state funds and urging the council to expedite the process to avoid further delays. Ward emphasized the importance of honoring the graves of Civil War soldiers buried at the site and addressed the responsibilities of the project developers, expressing frustration with perceived bureaucratic obstacles that hindered progress.

Community safety was another significant concern raised during the meeting. Council members acknowledged the tragic death of a child in the Kingsberry area, expressing condolences and recognizing the efforts of the Trenton Community street team in supporting affected families. This incident was characterized as a significant loss and a matter of public concern, prompting discussions on measures to enhance safety and prevent such occurrences.

Ordinance 2440 was mentioned, with a council member expressing anticipation for its return for discussion, reiterating the importance of ensuring that council decisions are made in the best interests of the community. The council member clarified that the council functions collectively, with independent votes contributing to decisions, emphasizing that pulling the ordinance was a procedural measure aimed at ensuring thorough consideration.

The discussion then transitioned to parking enforcement. The business administrator addressed concerns about parking regulations and enforcement, indicating that the city had experienced increased foot traffic post-pandemic, necessitating stricter enforcement measures to manage parking abuses such as double parking and commercial vehicles occupying streets improperly. The administrator highlighted the importance of maintaining traffic flow in business areas. There was an implication that the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) has a role in determining parking regulations, limiting what the city can unilaterally change. The administrator noted that any adjustments would need to be substantiated by studies and fall within NJDOT guidelines, stressing that “not everything will be fixed,” but the city would strive to address concerns promptly.

A council member raised a question about fairness in parking enforcement, stating that if certain areas were exempt from ticketing, it would be perceived as inequitable. They insisted on treating all areas uniformly to ensure consistency in enforcement, stating, “if we’re going to ticket these people, we must ticket all people.” This highlighted the ongoing debate about equitable enforcement across different neighborhoods.

Signage issues were also discussed, with a council member raising concerns about the need for updated signage throughout the city. The discussion touched on staffing challenges, with a mention of the potential need for temporary staff during vacations. The council member noted, “we can’t do that unless we have staff,” emphasizing the challenges faced due to staffing limitations.

The conversation shifted to the misuse of parking passes, with reports of residents color copying visitor passes, resulting in some households possessing multiple passes for several vehicles. A suggestion was made to explore alternative permitting systems, potentially adopting measures used by other cities like Philadelphia, such as incorporating holograms to prevent forgeries. This proposal was seen as a way to mitigate ongoing issues in smaller neighborhoods regarding parking pass misuse.