07/13/15
Ridgewood NJ, Is it just me, or does the draft wording of the proposed non-binding referendum question suggest that property tax revenues will not be required to finance or build a “downtown parking garage?”
The proposed wording of the question voters would see on Election Day, read aloud by Mayor Paul Aronsohn during last Wednesday evening’s Village Council Work Session, is as follows:
“Do you support a proposal to finance and build a downtown parking garage on the Hudson Street lot, located at the corner of Hudson Street and South Broad Street, by bonding up to 15 million dollars of public funds, which would be paid for by using parking revenues.”
Doesn’t the wording of this question imply that parking revenues will be the sole source of funding required garage financing and construction?
So what happens if there’s a recession, like we had in 2008, and people cut way back on shopping and dining out. No shoppers, and no diners means no parking revenue. Then who’s left holding the bag? You guessed it folks!
Remember fellow voters, the Village Hall renovation project was sold to taxpayers with a projected cost of $4.5 million. At $11 million, they stopped counting. To this day, we still don’t know how much was spent renovating Village Hall.
I’m skeptical that parking revenues alone can pay for a $15 million garage. I’m also skeptical that the brain trust at Village Hall would be actually able to bring in a project on time and on budget.
Before you enter the voting booth this coming November, know exactly what you’re voting for and how it might impact your pocketbook/wallet (i.e., property tax increases).
NONBINDING REFERENDA – ALL MUNICIPALITIES AND COUNTIES
The governing body of any municipality or county may “ascertain the sentiment of the legal voters of the municipality or county upon any question or policy pertaining to the government or internal affairs thereof” by adopting an ordinance or resolution at a regular meeting requesting that the proposition appear on the ballot at the next general election. The request must be filed with the county clerk no later than 74 days before the election. (N.J.S.A. 19:37-1 et seq.)
Once a municipal governing body has adopted a resolution or ordinance placing a nonbinding proposition before the voters and transmitted the request to the county clerk, the voters of the municipality have the power to place a reasonably related nonbinding question or policy before the voters by presenting to the governing body a petition signed by 10% or more of the registered and qualified voters of the municipality. The governing body must adopt a resolution at its next regular meeting requesting the county clerk to print the proposition as formulated and expressed in the petition on the ballot and must file the request with the clerk no later than 60 days prior to the election. (N.J.S.A. 19:37-1.1)
It’s called a shell game. money from the parking revenue is now used to support the town budget. money from the new garage if a surplus will be used to pay the loan off on the new garage. If revenue from the new garage isn’t adequate the town (I mean taxpayers) will have to make up the shortfall.
My questions:
1. What happens if parking revenues fall short of expectations?
2. What is the proposed parking fee structure for the new garage?
These are very important questions and I will explain why. For the first one, the answer is pretty obvious. The Village taxpayers will be on the hook for it as the construction bond cannot be reneged on just because you hoped there would be enough revenue. The second one will absolutely dictate the success or failure of the entire project. Any fee structure that is more than street parking will completely disincentivize most people from using the garage. They will circle the blocks until a street space frees up, or they will go somewhere else to eat/shop. As I’ve stated before, this garage will represent the parking location of absolute last resort, and I predict it will be viewed in years to come as one of those “what were they thinking” buildings.
Those who work in village and grab lunch at Sook for instance, won’t want to pay more than 50 cents an hour for parking. They will drive around like they do now looking for metered parking like they do now.
Also, if garage has fee after six p.m. that will also discourage users.
Yes, it is vital that we know the cost of parking in the proposed garage, before voting for it. It looks like it won’t pay for itself at all, Unless kept to 50 cents an hour, and maybe not even then. Remember, the banks can’t fail.
Also, what about the ease of getting in and out. Will it be difficult to maneuver out of the garage, if other cars next to you are also leaving, say at lunch time. It might be difficult and awkward and lead to fender benders.
I recommend an extra parking lot someplace, like where they plan to put the Kensington, which will just add a lot of congestion to the village, because of staffing of that mini hospital assisted living umeetings. Skip the Kensington. Bad for village
People have to speak out at council meetings about these concerns.
Is this intended to serve as a parking facility for commuters coming in from out of town?
The parking garage under consideration would be constructed across the street from Our Lady if Mount Carmel Church. Has this location been determined to be the best? What happened to the lot across the street from TD Bank on Franklin Avenue? Wasn’t that lot condemned for the purpose of erecting a parking garage? And wasn’t a bond issued at the time that we never used to build the structure?
If it is meant to be a place for long-term commuter parking, then I can see a better chance of it working. For this to happen, the existing all-day parking bays at/near the train station and the bus station will need to be changed to meters that only allow short-term parking intended for shoppers and diners.
You’ve got the right idea D.H. A parking garage that close to the train station and bus stop would be sufficient to serve commuters. The street level spaces near the should all be limited to 3 hours for the benefit of CBD businesses and their customers. Oh, and parking should be free on Sundays. Okay, now someone else can be king for a day…
Well 10:20 the chamber wants it for increase parking for the business but you say it for the commuters. Can’t have it both way. And if you think that the commuter are going to get off the train and eat and shop in Ridgewood I don’t think so. Commuter just want to get home after a long day. On a side not if they get off the train after 5:30 they couldn’t shop anyway all the store are closed. Which is it?
They should tax the CBD landlords for the garage. Their the ones that are going to profit from it.
But how much will it cost per hour to park there. It matters to me. I am not the upper one percent.
As sure as you’re born, a parking garage erected by Ridgewood’s village government will be co-opted for use by out-of-town commuters in accordance with the preferences of those seeking to dismantle New Jersey’s deeply ingrained “home rule” tradition and replace it with a new oligarchical style of regional government. Imagine a regional, multicounty board of overseers populated by Gwen Hauck-type cloned hand-puppets easily manipulated by namelesss, faceless third-party wealthy power brokers. That’s what many forward-thinking progressive statists see in their dreams. They don’t give a whit about mere business owners and their parking concerns…
Re-elect Paul Albert and Gyenn for 2016. Help them complete what they started
COME TO THE MEETING on Wednesday at 8 PM in Village Hall and speak up.
To answer the question of the story title:
Of course the wording is misleading. They have every intention of misleading the public on this. They are trying to shove this parking garage down our throats and they want to be able to say that we all approved it.
To all on this thread…sign the petition and get the question on the ballot. Let the people decide which way to fund. What are the petition opposers afraid of?
PETITION SIGNING LOCATIONS
ELKS CLUB
(111 Maple Ave-next to library-across from Kings)
SATURDAY FEBRUARY 20TH
11:00AM-4:00PM
OLMC – AFTER EACH MASS
HUDSON/PASSAIC/PROSPECT STREETS
SAT FEB 20TH / SUN FEB 21ST
This garage is a taxpayer nightmare – the Village couldn’t build a lemonade stand with cost overruns, change orders and delays. This thing will end up costing much more than the sanctioned amount, and current parking meter revenues will be diverted from the general budget to pay for this monstrosity, which means tax hikes will be coming to replace diverted parking revenues. I am stunned at how arrogant, stupid, and pig-headed the Council majority and Roberta are on this. They’ve lost my support and this must be stopped at all costs. What a bunch of shameful bullies, cheered on by CBD business owners who aren’t bearing any of the cost.