The 117 Jersey City employees at One Journal Square—which houses Animal Control, the Health Department and Assistant Business Administrator Steve Miller’s office—will be without free parking by September.

The City Council voted 4-3 against a contract for parking. Five votes were needed for the ordinance to pass. Council members Mariano Vega and Willie Flood were absent. Council members Peter Brennan, Bill Gaughan, David Donnelly and Mike Sottolano voted for the contract. Council members Stephen Fulop, Viola Richardson and Nidia Lopez voted against it.

“If employees are not taking a car, there are more spaces than we need,” said Councilwoman Richardson, adding that those who don’t live in Jersey City can take mass transit to their job at Journal Square.

Councilwoman Lopez said that five years was too long for a parking contract.

“We need to tweak this,” added Councilwoman Richardson.

But Council President Brennan said that eliminating free parking for city employees would add more hardships. “They’re already giving up 12 days a year in furloughs,” Brennan said.

The previous contract with Rand Parking, Inc., which expired in May, called for the city to pay $168,000 annually for 100 spaces. Miller renegotiated the contract. It called for 80 spots for $134,000 a year, with a clause that the five-year contract is subject to termination within 60 days, if the city felt it necessary.

Additionally, the lot’s management would validate parking according to employees’ license plate numbers, following concerns from resident John Seborowski that parking privileges could be abused. But the changes were not enough for the City Council, facing unprecedented budget shortfalls, to green light free parking.

“Journal Square is the hub of Jersey City,” Seborowski said, satisfied with the decision. “Exchange Place is another spot we’re wasting money on parking,” he added.