Mayor Duncan invited Mr. Klopsch to make opening comments and to deliver the meeting presentation.

Mr. Klopsch welcomed the committee members and discussed the following recent events and city projects:

• ➤
  Recycling Center: Oakwood continues to promote and encourage recycling. The City provides weekly city-wide collection of co-mingled recyclables and a 24/7 recycling drop-off facility for green waste, co-mingled recyclables and cardboard. The city also partners with the Oakwood Rotary Club to provide backdoor hazardous waste collection four times annually, and Green Oakwood, a citizen-driven organization, on a Styrofoam and string light recycling program. Mr. Klopsch reported that a total of 7,138 tons of refuse and recycling was collected in 2021. About half of the waste generated was recycled instead of going to the landfill.
• ➤
  Yard Debris Disposal: City staff continuously addresses illegal dumping of yard debris (green waste) in streets. The only exception to the prohibition on placing debris or objects in the street is the placement of leaves along the street gutter during the 10-week leaf collection season conducted annually between the middle of October and late December. Unfortunately, the dumping violations persist. In an effort to obtain compliance with this law, the city will begin imposing a $150 fee for illegal dumping beginning on January 1, 2023.
• ➤
  Traffic Signal System Study/Master Plan: There are 17 signalized intersections in Oakwood. Most of them were last assessed and upgraded over 25 years ago. The city contracted with CMT Engineers and Consultants to develop a multi-year plan for rebuilding Oakwood's traffic signal system and to maximize federal and state grant funding. Mr. Klopsch noted that a roundabout option at 5-Points (Far Hills, Thruston and Oakwood) is part of a proposal to complete the comprehensive analysis of the signal system. This alternative will include a detailed study and public input.
• ➤
  Sister City Celebration: There are several Oakwood Sister City Association events this weekend celebrating the City's 50^th twinning anniversary with Le Vésinet, France, and the 46^th twinning anniversary with Outremont, Canada. Two signs at the north and south Far Hills entrances to Oakwood were recently installed recognizing the Sister Cities.
• ➤
  Far Hills Timber Wall: The timber wall along both sides of the Far Hills Business District has been maintained over the years and is still serving its intended purpose. City staff recently made some needed repairs and repainted the wall.
• •
  CITY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN: Mr. Klopsch shared that a complete rewrite of the Oakwood Comprehensive Plan was completed in 2004, and given that Oakwood is almost fully developed, the plan is still applicable. He reviewed various aspects of the Plan, including the vision statement and overall purpose of the Plan. The documented achievements made to date towards the Goals & Objectives set forth in the city's 2004 Comprehensive Plan primarily capture the work that has been done over the past 18 years. These achievements were reported to the Oakwood Planning Commission at the October 5, 2022 meeting. By a vote of 4 – 0, the Planning Commission accepted the documented achievements, and acknowledged that the plan is still valid, which took the form of a