City Council got its first look at Mayor Jay Gillian’s proposed 2015 budget on Thursday, heard Gillian’s “State of the City” address and heard from citizens frustrated by worsening street flooding. But here are some other items that might be of interest:
- Dredging Bayside Lagoons and Channels: In a unanimous vote, City Council gave final approval to an ordinance authorizing the spending of $5 million ($4.75 million of it to be borrowed) this year to dredge lagoons and bayside channels that are too shallow for boat traffic. The bond ordinance finances the emptying of an existing spoils site near the 34th Street causeway that is filled to capacity. It also would include money for the start of a dredging project at an unspecified area. The city had not yet opened bids from contractors who can empty the spoils site, so officials do not yet know how much money will be left for actual dredging. A separate spoils site near the Ninth Street Bridge is approved, but for an amount (4,000 to 5,000 cubic yards) far less than what Ocean City had anticipated, according to Mayor Jay Gillian. In public comments, residents of the Bay Club on the north end and of a bayfront community south of 34th Street asked if they could “piggyback” on the city’s permits and spoils sites, if they could dredge at their own expense. Read more: A $5 Million Promise: “They Better Be Dredging by July 1.”
- Ice-Cream Vendors: City Council voted to table an ordinance that would have reduced the number of bicycle-cart licenses from 20 to 12; allowed one vendor to bid on all 12 licenses; changed hours of operation to 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (from 10 a.m. to sunset); raised minimum bids from truck vendors from $1,500 to $2,000; and prohibited more than one vendor from selling at the same street end at the same time. The city administration had requested that the ordinance be pulled because it hadn’t fully considered all the safety implications related to a massive beach replenishment project scheduled for the south end of Ocean City this summer. The administration asked for more time to reconsider a more complete measure. Vendor Bart Russell had spoken against the ordinance in part because of the provision limiting the number of vendors who can sell at the same street end. City Solicitor Dottie McCrosson said she would not expect the city to have a new ordinance ready for this summer.
- No Jumping From Bridges: City Council approved the final reading of an ordinance making it unlawful to jump from any bridge within the city limits (a tool Ocean City police currently do not have). Another amendment would allow police to claim as abandoned any bicycle left unmoved on public property for more than 7 days.
- Housekeeping Ordinances: City Council passed the first readings of two ordinances: one that changes an outdated law making it possible for the mayor and City Council to appoint a replacement for a retiring tax collector, the other more clearly delineating the line of authority to help with an Ocean City Police Department re-accreditation application.
- New 5-Year Leases for Yianni’s (at Community Center) and Airport Diner: City Council approved new five-year leases for the existing restaurant vendors at the Ocean City Community Center (Ioannis Signs of SoHoRo LLC, Yianni’s Cafe) and the Ocean City Municipal Airport (John Kurz of Lo-Jo Enterprises, Airport Diner). Both companies were the sole bidders on their respective concession contracts.
- Bayside Park and Marina: City Council approved a $191,561 contract with K&G Marine Contracting of Manahawkin for bulkhead improvements. The work will replace the bulkhead at the Tennessee Avenue boat ramp (near 22nd Street) and also restore the south pier in the public park on the bay at Second Street. The pier was destroyed in Superstorm Sandy, and work would include replacing boat slips, power and water. The work will restore what existed before Sandy, and will likely be reimbursed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
