Dear Friends,
City Council last night approved a smoking ban for all Ocean City beaches. The ordinance is fitting for “America’s Greatest Family Resort,” and I hope it will allow everybody to enjoy our beaches in the safest and healthiest way. My administration had drafted and recommended the amended local law, which now prohibits smoking on the beach, boardwalk and all public parks and recreational areas.
During discussion of the new measure, members of council and the public raised concerns about enforcement, and they are legitimate. It’s not easy to patrol and prevent every infraction across eight miles of crowded summer beaches. But the new law will provide a tool to educate the public. I will instruct our police to ask smokers to stop and to warn them about the new law. The measure takes effect in 20 days, and I hope you all will bear with us during this first summer.
On the beach at Sixth Street, a contractor is installing a new outfall pipe that triples the capacity of stormwater drainage on the beach blocks. The work is similar to what was recently completed at Third Street, Ninth Street and 13
th Street. Large pipes and construction machinery will be stored on the beach during the work, and I urge all parents to make sure their children do not climb on or in any of this equipment.
With a new moon on Wednesday, we have been experiencing exceptionally high evening tides this week. Even with no rain or strong winds in the forecast, the National Weather Service is predicting minor flooding for a high tide at 10:30 p.m. tonight. Please monitor conditions and be prepared to move parked vehicles and avoid flooded streets.
The weather forecasters are otherwise predicting a gorgeous weekend. The Ocean City Beach Patrol is almost fully staffed, and
these are the beaches that will be guarded as of Saturday.
Have a great weekend, and I hope all fathers will get a chance to enjoy their day Sunday with their families.
Warm regards,
Jay A. Gillian
Mayor
