Hoboken Council Meeting In A Nutshell

The city council announced a new flu clinic, discussed the need to resurface the parking lot at 11th and Willow, debated moving municipal elections to November, shuffled some handicapped parking spots, and approved making Sinatra Street and 2nd Street a two-way drive.

Here are the details of what you missed during Wednesday evening's city council meeting at city hall:

Free H1N1 shots

Another free H1N1 flu shot clinic will take place on Feb. 3, from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m., at the Hoboken University Medical Center. 

The resurfacing of the parking lot at 11th and Willow

Parking Utility Director Ian Sacs argued for immediate action to resurface the parking lot at 11th and Willow streets and the Council agreed to take that action, although several members said that something more needs to be done with that space.

"I totally agree, that something more creative, something better, something more beneficial to the community should be done to this space in the future," Sacs said. But if there is no immediate action, the lot will have to be closed "out of concern for collapse of the lot." 

The resurfacing is a short-term solution that will pay for itself within a year, Sacs told the council, and will buy time to consider a long-term plan. 

"We have a 'rock-and-a-hard-place' situation here," said Councilman Michael Lenz. 

Move municipal elections to November?

Councilman-at-Large Ravinder Bhalla proposed a resolution to move municipal elections to November, as allowed under a new state law. Bhalla explained why he thinks Hoboken should adopt the state law—mostly because it could save the city roughly $300,000 if elections are consolidated. 

Handicapped parking

Three new handicapped parking spaces were designated, located at 713 Bloomfield Street, 909 Hudson Street and 530 Adams Street. Three old handicapped parking spots were removed, and will now be available to all members of the community again, at  503 Bloomfield Street, 700 Park Avenue and 1032 Hudson Street. 

St. Paddy's Day

The Council had a quick discussion, led by Councilman Nico Giachhi, about the St. Patrick's Day Parade on March 6. 

"The zero tolerance policy (on public intoxication) has been endorsed by Mayor Zimmer," Giacchi said. Zimmer is set to meet with the Hospitality Committee next week. 

One-way street becomes two-way

In order to regulate truck traffic, 2nd Street and Sinatra Drive will become a two-way street, Sacs announced. There will be one lane in each direction. The remaining space—on both sides of the street—will become bicycle lanes. The director will propose a formal plan about this renovation at the next council meeting. 

Appointment 

Steven Rofsky was appointed to the Hoboken Municipal Hospital Authority for a one-year term, which will expire on June 30, 2011.

The next council meeting will be at City Hall on Wednesday, Feb. 3, at 7 p.m.