04/24/2026
Garfield City Council — April 28th, 2026
Next Tuesday at 6PM, the Garfield Mayor and Council meet at City Hall (111 Outwater Lane). Here’s what’s on the agenda and why it matters.
* The Budget Situation
Garfield is currently operating on its third temporary budget amendment of 2026. This isn’t an opinion, it’s quite literally the title of Resolution R-223-26 on tonight’s agenda. The reason? Per Resolution R-229-26, “due to the late adoption of the State of New Jersey’s budget, the County Board of Taxation is unable to certify the tax rate at this time.”
What that means for you: the city is mailing estimated Q3 tax bills using a projected rate of 3.65 (+1.05% from 2025) — but that number isn’t final yet. Once the state passes its budget and the county certifies the rate, a reconciled bill will follow.
* Spending
Three bond ordinances are up for final passage tonight (introduced April 14th):
• $1.843M - New fire engine, DPW dump trucks, police laptops, and security cameras at Jewell St Spray Park
• $520K - Water utility improvements including a new utility truck, water meter replacements (Phase 3), and fire hydrants
•$645K - Plauderville Ave road improvement (Phase I), partially offset by a $299K state DOT grant and $185K Bergen County grant
Also on the consent agenda: $1.19M ratification list (already paid), $55.6K in volunteer firefighter LOSAP awards, and a $10.9K water meter contractor payment.
* Ordinances - Final Vote Tuesday
• Ord. 3131 - Police department table of organization revised: up to 60 officers, 13 sergeants, 8 lieutenants, 5 captains
• Ord. 3135 - Cannabis Sunday hours expanded to 10am–7pm
• Ord. 3136 - New stop sign at Jewell St & Columbus Ave; creates permanent framework for adding future signs by ordinance
* Ordinances - First Reading (Public Hearing May 12th)
• Ord. 3139 - Cannabis license late fees: 10% initial, +5% every 30 days unpaid
• Ord. 3140 - Tow truck license application fee set at $1,000 (nonrefundable)
• Ord. 3141 - Hazmat cost recovery: city can bill responsible parties $50/hr per vehicle plus all materials and overtime
• Ord. 3142 - $645K Plauderville Ave bond (first reading)
• Ord. 3143 - Mobile food vendor Columbus Park dedicated license eliminated; general cap stays at 5
• Ord. 3144 - Business license fees updated across ~25 categories. Notable increases: restaurants ($250→$400), supermarkets ($350→$1,000), junkyards ($150→$1,250), bakeries ($200→$400). New fees added for smoke shops ($2,000), coffee shops ($400), and others already being collected but not previously codified.
• Ord. 3145 - Massage therapy establishments now require a city permit on top of state certification; hours capped 9am–10pm
* Proclamations
The council will recognize Kyle Kovacs, the first firefighter accepted, and graduating from, the Naval Postgraduate School’s Center for Homeland Defense and Security, and Pastor Nana Kweisi Bediako.
The agenda and all resolutions are public record and available at garfieldnj.org. Want to weigh in? Public comment is open Tuesday at 6PM.
Stay Informed. Show Up.
— Redzio for Garfield 🐕
