By Anne Levin

In his annual visit with Princeton Council on Monday night, February 11, Princeton University President Christopher Eisgruber cited the recent announcement that Google has established an office in downtown Princeton, part of a collaboration with the University, as an example of a “win-win” relationship between the school and the town.

Eisgruber described the Google deal, which facilitates work the company is doing with University faculty and students on artificial intelligence, as “a win-win for the town as well as a win for the University,” he said. “These kinds of joint ventures really matter to our students.” He added that he hoped to see more such collaborations in the future.

Asked by Mayor Liz Lempert what such companies are looking for, Eisgruber said that “flexibility and nimbleness” are key. “Companies, as they come in, want to be as proximate to the town as they can be.” Council President Jenny Crumiller thanked Eisgruber for opening up the free Tiger Transit bus to the community, and asked whether the University is considering the possibility of autonomous vehicles as a way to facilitate transit. Shared vehicles would likely be a better solution to transit problems, he replied.

Council member Eve Niedergang spoke of her concerns that graduate students seeking housing might be moving into residences that would otherwise be available to community members. Eisgruber responded that the planned construction of the Lake Campus across Lake Carnegie will include more housing for graduate students.

Council member Leticia Fraga told Eisgruber she applauds the University’s $50,000 contribution to the Habitat for Humanity project on Lytle Street in the Witherspoon-Jackson neighborhood, which University students will be helping to build. She suggested that when giving out gift cards to students, local establishments should be considered instead of mega-companies such as Amazon.

Later in the meeting Municipal Administrator Marc Dashield reported on a letter Council received from the Princeton Merchants Association, recommending improvements to the Princeton Parking Plan. “We agree with them in one statement saying we should take a more comprehensive look” at the issues, he said.

Among those issues are a recommendation to have meters in operation in loading zones. The town will establish a pilot program at the loading area for the Brooks Brothers store on Palmer Square, Dashield said. The merchants suggested moving the starting time for meters in town from 9 a.m. to 8 a.m. Employee parking and permit parking were also mentioned. Crumiller cautioned that more information is needed before any decisions on that subject are made.

Other items on Council’s agenda included a report on the Mercer County budget from Scott Sillars of the Citizens Finance Advisory Committee, concluding that the county appears to be spending more money than what comparable counties spend; a vote in favor of changes to the Civil Rights Commission; and the introduction of an ordinance adding free parking on President’s Day. A full meeting on the ongoing parking issues will take place April 15.

Council voted to approve two resolutions authorizing the settlement reached with seven police officers who sued the town in 2013, alleging that former Police Chief David Dudeck had engaged in harassment as well as gender and sexual orientation discrimination, creating a hostile work environment. Lempert said Council was not yet able to discuss terms of the settlement.

The next meeting of Council is February 25.