City Council on Thursday approved spending $750,000 on a new skateboard park, moved to lease a city-owned property to the Greater Ocean City Theatre Company for $1 a year and approved an agreement to transport dredge spoils to Wildwood, but here are some other items from Thursday’s meeting that might be of interest.
Downtown and Boardwalk Budgets: City Council approved the first reading of a $311,448 budget for Ocean City’s three Special Improvement Districts (SIDs). The SIDs include the retail section of the Ocean City Boardwalk, the downtown section of Asbury Avenue and the gateway section of Ninth Street. The budget is funded by assessments on businesses in the districts (based on storefront footage) and by revenue from events. The budget goes to marketing, beautification and promoting special events. Downtown Merchants Association co-chairman Paul Cunningham and Boardwalk Merchants Association President Wes Kazmarck reported on plans to build on momentum from 2014. Cunningham said efforts to merge downtown groups into the new Downtown Merchants Association and to create a cohesive branding message in 2014 were successful. Kazmarck said the popular boardwalk theme nights (Family Night, Mummers Night, etc.) will continue and the group will look to expand on a successful season. A second reading and public hearing on the budget is scheduled for Jan. 8. (See Agenda Packet for detail on the budget.)
Attics in Ocean City Homes Neighborhood: City Council approved the first reading of an ordinance that provides relief for the only single-family neighborhood in Ocean City with a six-foot attic height limit. The proposed measure would allow attic heights of nine feet and eliminate a requirement for a pull-down stair (without affecting overall building height requirements). A second reading is scheduled for Dec. 29. (See Agenda Packet for detail.)
Merion Park Utility Poles: Council approved the installation of three new utility poles to support the new pumping station in the drainage project near completion. The new pumps are expected to be installed next week.
Leon Costello Contract: City Council voted to award a professional services contract to Leon Costello of Ford, Scott & Associates for municipal auditing services.
Project Updates: Ocean City Business Administrator Mike Dattilo reported that the city expects to have more information next week on the schedule for the Army Corps of Engineers beach replenishment project on the south end of the island. He said the project to replace a block of boardwalk between Sixth and Seventh streets is proceeding more quickly than a similar project last year with pilings already being installed. He said work to repave some streets between Battersea Road and First Street will begin next week.
