The Hoboken City Council approved a $12,000 increase to a consulting contract with McManaman Scotland and Baumann LLC to complete work tied to an RFP for the 916 Garden Street garage, raising the contract to $27,000.

Councilman Cohen explained the motion and said the city issued a request for information last year to identify options for the garage, which he described as costing the city "a quarter million dollars a year" to keep open. "This is a proposal … to allow for additional costs relating to an RFP that's going to be issued to get this out the door so that we can get responses as to what the city's options are on this," Cohen said. He said the RFP should give the council—and the next mayor—options for securing a future for the property, including whether the site could operate as a functioning garage or be repurposed.

Cohen also noted ward boundary changes might place the site in the Sixth Ward and said the city is also addressing imminent parking changes at other lots. The resolution was adopted on roll call.