Ridgewood Village Council weighs higher commuter parking fees
Proposed permit changes would combine nonresident categories, raise overnight and downtown employee rates, and expand access to upper garage levels.
Two hosts walk through the week’s edition in conversation — parking ordinance amendments — permit categories,, ridgewood water — project closeout and, and what’s coming next. Generated by Aware, from this week’s verified summaries.
Ridgewood Village Council heard that train station parking was fully booked as councilmembers weighed resident access against the revenue from nonresident permits.
A place near the train station may soon cost more. The Ridgewood Village Council reviewed two proposed parking ordinance amendments that would raise permit fees and change who can use the garage. Staff said smaller increases now would avoid sharper increases after years without changes. The discussion centered on commuter permits and garage parking, not metered street parking.
Under the proposal, nonresidents would no longer choose between premium and non-premium permits. A single nonresident permit, priced at $2,000, would cover garage levels 2, 3 and 4 and the nearby municipal lot. Resident premium and non-premium pricing would change, while both permit types and downtown employee permits would gain access to those garage levels. Staff said train station parking was fully booked. Councilmembers weighed resident access against nonresident revenue and the effect of parking prices on downtown businesses.
The proposed three-month overnight sticker price would rise from $85 to $100. Downtown employee hang tags would rise from $110 to $120 a month, with the half-month price going from $55 to $60. Staff described senior sticker fees of $75 for purchases from January 1 through June 30 and $37.50 for the rest of the year; program rules will be addressed in a later resolution. Councilmembers requested mid-year or year-end permit sales figures. No formal introduction or vote was recorded during this discussion.
Ridgewood Water — project closeout and final payment for 2023 infrastructure improvement project (Shorter Property Services)
The Ridgewood Village Council heard a recommendation to close out a water infrastructure project that began in 2023. Ridgewood Water’s director said contractor Shorter Property Services finished the work for $4,366,369, approximately $163,000 below the bid amount. He asked the council to approve final payment and close the project.
The work included approximately 6,500 linear feet of distribution improvements and 1,500 feet of water mains tied to PFAS work. It included 20-inch mains and took place in Ridgewood and two neighboring municipalities. The director said construction was complete, leaving final payment and project closeout as the remaining steps.
The presentation gave councilmembers a final cost and a tally of completed work, rather than a request for additional construction. The difference between the bid and final amount means the project finished below its original contract figure, according to the director. The Ridgewood Village Council proceeded to the next agenda item after the recommendation; no vote tally was recorded.
Ridgewood Village Council discusses water tank hearing
The Ridgewood Village Council discussed an October 14 public hearing on a proposed $6.98 million, 20-year program to maintain 10 water storage tanks. Ridgewood Water’s director said one vendor responded to the solicitation. Anna contract would require a later council vote and outside review.
The proposal would set the maintenance approach for the utility’s 10 water storage tanks for 20 years.
Village manager reports roadwork and grant totals
The Ridgewood Village Council heard the village manager’s report on leaf collection, roadwork and nearly $600,000 in donations supporting community center renovations. The manager said grant awards from 2023–2026 totaled about $7.4 million and reported that 650 homeowners and tenants had signed up to bar commercial solicitation at their homes.
Residents can use the leaf pickup system, while donated funds will pay for the community center work.
Residents question Ridgewood Village Council on fields
The Ridgewood Village Council heard residents raise concerns about sidewalk conditions and turf, and ask when the fields committee would meet. An online speaker asked whether the council favored one housing organization over another for inclusive housing. The mayor closed public comment without announcing a choice.
The questions concern where residents can walk safely, when fields will be discussed and how housing plans develop.
Ridgewood Village Council packages $18 million in bonds
The Ridgewood Village Council adopted resolutions for the sale of $9.5 million in general-improvement bonds and $8.5 million in water-utility bonds. The village manager said the $18 million package combines previously authorized debt for work including roads, buildings, PFAS treatment and lead service line replacement, rather than funding new projects.
Residents can distinguish this bond sale from a vote to authorize another $18 million in projects.
- Ridgewood Village Council. A resident described seeing NJIT graduate students installing additional flooding-monitoring cameras near Stevens Field/Maple Field and asked for updates on flooding initiatives and whether cameras would cover additional sections. The resident also pointed out a “sandbar”/rock pile constricting Hohokus Brook and expressed support for progress on flooding work.
- Ridgewood Village Council. During closing public comment, speakers raised concerns about sidewalk conditions for seniors, reiterated concerns about turf and contamination at Shedler and disputed Council characterizations, asked about the timing of a fields committee meeting amid field-condition concerns, and asked why the Council was leaning toward Community Options versus other organizations for inclusive housing.
- Ridgewood Village Council. During special public meeting public comment, a resident asked whether the bond consolidation would change interest rates compared with older debt and requested information on the numbers.
- Ridgewood Village Council. Residents and visitors spoke during opening public comment, largely opposing the Shedler Field artificial turf plan and tree removal, raising concerns about water, contamination, indigenous history, and process. Additional comments addressed a circulated map’s accuracy, municipal debt/bonds, and broader criticisms of governance and services.
What we didn’t fit in this Sundays edition
Ridgewood had 39 more items this week. Here are sixfour — the rest are on Aware.
- GOVERNANCEResidents’ Closing Questions and Village Responses. Residents asked about South Pleasant bike-lane parking, reassessment and Valley Hospital, meeting procedures, parking permits, the proposed water-tank contract and grants. The Mayor and Village Manager responded on those topics, including the reassessment timeline, the contract’s public-hearing process and how permit changes affect metered parking.
- GOVERNANCEShedler Field Debate Covers Remediation, Trees and Historic Review. Residents raised concerns about the Shedler Field turf plan, tree removal, contamination, water and Indigenous history; the Mayor and Council described remediation work and coordination with the State Historic Preservation Office. The Village said its GIS review found inaccuracies in a circulated map and would share its report with the state, while seeking a hazardous-discharge grant application for the former ShopRite property’s remediation.
- GOVERNANCEContract Discussion: Renovations/Improvements at Citizens Field via ESCNJ Cooperative Purchasing. Staff discussed awarding a contract through the Educational Services Commission of New Jersey cooperative for improvements at Citizens Field, supported by a 121,775 Bergen County Open Space Trust Fund grant and Village capital funds. The project scope included drainage, fencing, landscaping, shelters, benches, protective fencing, and regrading, with a total cost stated as exceeding 318,922.
- GOVERNANCECommunity Options Presentation: Housing for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and Affordable Housing Credits. Community Options presented on developing small residential homes (typically four individuals) for people with intellectual/developmental disabilities, including 24/7 staffing and potential affordable housing credits. Council discussed zoning, walkability, medical needs, and how such homes could support Ridgewood’s affordable housing obligations.
- GOVERNANCEVillage Manager Report: AAA Bond Rating, Road Projects, Traffic Signal Installation, Fire Grant, and Surplus Auction Revenue. The Village Manager reported that Ridgewood’s AAA bond rating was reaffirmed with a stable outlook, provided updates on milling/paving schedules and county road work, announced a traffic signal installation project timeline, reported a $244,890 federal fire training grant, and stated that surplus property auctions generated $151,000 in revenue.
- GOVERNANCERidgewood Water: Additional Award for West Glen Booster Pump Station Work and Customer Refund. Staff presented two Ridgewood Water items: an additional award to a contractor for equipment/controls work at the West Glen booster pump station (137,831.55) and a customer refund for an overpayment error (1,249.50).
- GOVERNANCEVillage Updates Hohokus Brook Flood Monitoring and Cleanup Plans. A resident asked about new NJIT flood-monitoring cameras near Stevens and Maple fields and pointed to sediment buildup in Hohokus Brook. Village officials reported camera monitoring, progress toward an Army Corps flood study and plans for spring desilting, subject to state permits; a county-led sustainability grant application was not selected.
- GOVERNANCEEverbridge mass emergency notification system — authorization to enter second year of three-year contract. The Council reviewed authorization to enter the second year of a three-year contract with Everbridge for mass emergency notifications. Staff described expanded communications capabilities, including integration with Ridgewood Water customer data and police dispatch text notifications for items such as paving and recycling center closures.
- GOVERNANCERecycling and Sanitation Presentation: Styrofoam Densifier, Food Scrap Recycling Expansion, and Related Programs. The recycling/sanitation supervisor presented updates on expanded polystyrene (styrofoam) recycling results, food scrap recycling participation and expansion plans, and additional recycling programs (vegetable oil, Christmas lights, mattress/box spring recycling). Two new food scrap container locations were proposed, with a goal of 500 participants by next year.
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