Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Clifton public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
45 issues with high priority
School expansion at iLearn facility on Clifton Avenue
A memorializing resolution will formalize earlier approval of an 8,800-square-foot, two-story addition to the existing school building, along with sign and parking variances including tandem parking.
City Council Election
Clifton's upcoming city council race is packed with 19 candidates vying for just 7 seats. These winning officials will hold the keys to local budgets, city development, and everyday neighborhood services.
Firefighter hires and EMT training
Clifton won a $2.1 million federal grant, but it was written for 16 firefighters while the council only approved seven positions — and councilman Kolodziej warned of future tax hits when the grant expires.
Solar feasibility and city budget pressure
A $5.8 million solar project — mostly canopies at City Hall and toward the COSA center — could zero out the city's electric bill, with roughly $6 million back in federal grants and SREC credits. The council will bring Talva Energy in for a full presentation.
Non-owner-occupied dwelling registration fees
Councilwoman Sadrakula wants a rental registration and inspection program to catch illegal apartments and unsafe conditions. The city will draft its own ordinance, adding complaint-based inspections to the model.
Health Insurance Broker Switch Under Fire
Kolodziej voted against keeping Marsh McLennan, claiming the advertised $1.1 million savings are built on inflated stop-loss numbers while health benefit costs rose $5.5 million. The majority and the city manager defended the contract, touting $2.4 million in new prescription self-funding savings.
Traffic and Pedestrian Safety Ordinances
New no-turn-on-red restrictions on Van Houten and Valley Road, school crossing designations, and a batch of handicapped parking changes all moved forward.
Crossing Guard Privatization Problems
Two weeks in, the privatized crossing guard program has open posts and pay complaints — one veteran guard says she was offered less money and wasn't paid. The 60-day grace period ends November 4, after which the city pays for any police officer filling a post.
Master Plan Zoning Ordinances (Conditional Uses)
Seven proposed amendments to the city's zoning code covering general standards, bulk requirements and conditional uses in business and industrial zones were reviewed and found consistent with the Master Plan.
Allwood Road improvements and county relations
Residents and council members are frustrated the county won't come back to Clifton to explain the Allwood Road plan after revising it. People want to know if it's fully funded, want left-turn signals at Passaic Avenue, and want assurance no cherry trees will be removed. The mayor asked Commissioner Veliky to arrange another public meeting.
Illegal housing enforcement
Residents are pushing for stricter occupancy standards based on bedrooms, not just square footage, plus more inspectors and consequences for repeat violators. Council asked for new illegal-housing rules on the next agenda.
Senior programs funding gap (Seniors We Care / Power of One)
The Seniors We Care program coordinator says she's gone nine months without pay despite council support, and asked for the purchase order to be released and a clear timeline. Council members demanded answers from administration.
Richfield one-way streets and permit parking
The city is considering digital permit parking plus meters on about 800 downtown spaces at $1.25/hour. It could raise serious revenue (Hoboken-style) but residents worry about visitor passes and business owners worry about lost free parking.
Fire Department Overtime Overrun
The council expanded the Fire Department table of organization hoping seven new hires will cut overtime that's running $1.1 million against a $750K budget. Kolodziej wants alternatives like rolling closures and consolidation.
Solid waste contract and trash rules
Clifton is designing the bid for its next garbage contract, expected to cost significantly more than the current $11 million annual deal. Carts could reduce rodents and odors, but residents raised concerns about seniors, large families, storage, and cost. No final decisions were made.
Stormwater compliance and failed engineering contract
The council rejected the cheaper Artheon bid for state-mandated stormwater plan updates, even though the city is already out of compliance with NJDEP and could be fined. Flooding and drainage are top resident concerns.
Traffic safety concerns citywide
Residents raised speeding on Nelson Street, missing sidewalks on Allwood Place, and requested a four-way stop at Colfax and Mount Prospect. The council introduced a four-way stop at Gregory and Summer and asked for traffic review of Nelson Street.
Solid waste collection frequency
Residents lined up to oppose a move to once-a-week garbage pickup, citing large families, overflowing cans, and rat concerns. The council responded with a 6-0 vote to keep twice-weekly collection.
City Council Vote on Flag Raising Ceremonies
Clifton’s City Council rejected a proposal to stop cultural flag-raising ceremonies at City Hall, so the community events will keep going for now. That means local groups can still use the flagpole to celebrate heritage and culture—at least until the issue comes up again.
City manager search process
The council is interviewing three search firms to find the next city manager, but a motion to schedule the interviews failed 3-3 over transparency and process objections.
Data center moratorium discussion
Residents and Councilwoman Sadrakula say the three data centers already in Clifton are driving up electric bills, straining water and power, and bringing noise. A five-year moratorium on new data centers was proposed, with legal noting an ordinance amendment is required.
Moratorium on New Data Centers
Clifton is one step from banning new data centers — first reading passed 5-0, with a public hearing and final vote on August 5. If you've worried about big server farms gobbling land and power, this is the ordinance to watch.
Tax Bill Breakdown Confusion
Pino and Grabowski pushed back on tax complaints: the Board of Ed takes 48% of your bill (up $10 million) and the county 22% (up $8 million), while the city's share is only about a quarter. Tax bills were delayed past the usual August 1 due date.
Sidewalk Enforcement Failures
Henry Cholewczynski says five rebuilt Allwood Place homes skipped required sidewalks, an asbestos-riddled demolition at 33 Phyllis Place left friable debris and an open pit, and nobody notified neighbors. Latona promised an ordinance change so only the council — not the city engineer — can waive sidewalks.
'Brown Checks' — Spending Outside Council Oversight
Members learned that an ACH reimbursement process ('brown checks') lets employees get paid for travel, seminars, and more without those payments ever appearing on the bills list the council votes on — over $100,000 in seminar/training spend cited. Latona wants a full report.
Discolored tap water
A resident brought a gallon of brown tap water from her home and demanded the city fix it, saying it ruins clothing and that her dogs cannot drink it. Councilman Kolodziej tied it to the loss of the city's direct seat on the Passaic Valley Water Commission and pushed for commissioners to attend council meetings.
$4.8 Million Bond Ordinance for Capital Improvements
A preview bond list allocates $2 million to parks and recreation with nothing for roads; Sadrakula wants Allwood Place sidewalks and Gregory Manor Park added, and a final bond committee meeting will happen before introduction.
Crooks Avenue quality of life
A 35-year resident described speeding traffic, businesses staying open past midnight, patrons occupying her family's handicapped parking spot, and two-hour police response times. She proposed residential permit parking after 5 p.m. The city manager pledged to involve police and code enforcement.
Soft-serve ice cream truck ordinance
The council adopted rules letting ice cream trucks sell soft serve: only three licenses citywide, a $1,000 fee, a 10 p.m. curfew, and auto-suspension for repeat violations. Existing packaged-ice-cream vendors and some residents fought it over health, noise, and competition concerns.
Little Free Pantries vandalism
Volunteer-run food pantries were vandalized and apparently set on fire; an arrest was announced at the meeting. Operators say zoning and health complaints are being used against them and asked the council to change ordinances to make pantries easier to run.
Little Free Pantry zoning dispute
Pantry organizers say a zoning law change could get the wooden pantries chainsawed down; two council members disputed the characterization, saying the health-and-welfare chapter removal is off the table and only a residential storage carve-out was discussed.
One-way traffic pattern for Urma Avenue and Pershing Road (Richfield)
Police data showed none of the streets meet the 25% threshold for permit parking, and Friday counts were skipped due to RLUIPA legal constraints tied to the mosque. Residents called the study inadequate and opposed one-way streets.
2026 Independence Day carnival and fireworks funding controversy
A three-day July 4th carnival and fireworks was organized without full council votes, and members demanded to know where police, DPW, and fireworks costs will come from. Last year's event netted only about $16,000.
Police Misconduct Settlement
Clifton just settled an excessive-force lawsuit for $625K, and taxpayers are footing the bill—plus extra legal defense costs. It matters because public money is covering police conduct claims, not some abstract budget line.
Boil water advisory and PVWC notification failures
Allwood and Richfield residents learned of a boil water advisory and overnight water shutoff through social media, not official channels. The city says PVWC failed to notify it; Sadrakula demanded PVWC appear at the next meeting.
Rules of order and public comment limits
The council approved ending meetings at 11 p.m. and starting with executive session, but rejected proposals to split public comment or limit speech after loud public opposition. Many residents called the changes censorship.
Richfield parking, traffic and mosque-area congestion
Residents say the Planning Board-approved mosque expansion — from roughly 900 to 1,434 capacity — will overwhelm Pershing Road area streets, and fault the board for shifting the problem to the council.
Affordable housing ordinance and On3 development
Prism Capital's Eugene Diaz urged the council to add flexibility to the mandatory 20% affordable housing set-aside, arguing it makes the $500 million On3 project unfinanceable. Latona said he's open to amendments.
Property revaluation inspector conduct
The city's first revaluation in 35 years is underway. Inspectors have visited thousands of homes; residents worried about 'knock and run' visits, finished-basement classifications, and upcoming tax impacts got answers at a special Q&A.
Police Staffing and Hiring
Seven new police officers were hired at $48,284 each, but the city manager noted the department is still roughly 40 officers short of FBI-recommended staffing.
Safety fence at Chelsea Park
A firefighter who responded to a fatal child pedestrian strike is pushing for a roughly 200-foot fence along Chelsea Road at the park, estimating about $5,000. The council agreed to get cost and scope details before committing.
Main Avenue construction fatality and site safety
David Joseph demanded answers about the construction death on Main Avenue, noting no scaffolding, sidewalk protection or hazard-reporting signage. Sadrakula called it selective enforcement and wants answers.
Official Misconduct
A Clifton city leader has been suspended after sending vulgar messages, and the official is calling it a lapse in judgment. The episode could unsettle local government and bring more scrutiny to City Hall.
Mayoral Selection Deadlock
Clifton’s council is deadlocked on choosing the city’s next mayor, and one member is calling the gridlock “such a travesty.” If you live in Clifton, this isn’t inside baseball—it decides who runs your city government and can slow decisions that affect residents.
Mayoral Election
Clifton is electing its first new mayor in 32 years, which means the city is about to undergo a major leadership shakeup after three decades of continuity. Your vote can genuinely shape how the city is run and what priorities the next administration pursues.