Know before you go: Mayor to present budget at Thursday council meeting

Last Updated on Wednesday, February 13, 2013 01:08 pm Written by Claire Lowe Wednesday, February 13, 2013 02:00 am

Know before you go: Mayor to present budget at Thursday council meeting

OCEAN CITY — Mayor Jay Gillian will present his annual municipal budget address when Ocean City Council meets 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 14 at the Ocean City Library, 1735 Simpson Ave. The administration will then host two budget workshops at 6 p.m. Feb. 20 and 21, one focusing on revenue, the other on expenditures.

At its Valentine’s Day meeting, council will also consider three ordinances for introduction.

One will change the zoning of block 11, lots 1-13 and block 108, lots 1-17 from north end neighborhood to residential single family, as per the recently adopted master plan re-examination. These properties are located on West Avenue between North and Second streets.

A second ordinance will approve a $5.788 million bond for city improvements, including $550,000 for lagoon dredging; $2.9 million for road reconstruction and repair; $15,000 for ADA beach access paths; $690,000 for repairs to City Hall and the 29th Street firehouse; $425,000 for repair of the 15th Street playground and fountains and footbaths near the beach; $65,000 for acquisition of parking meters; $100,000 for acquisition of buildings and grounds equipments, and chairs for the Music Pier; $25,000 for public safety radios; and $1.018 million to purchase a pumper truck, mini dump truck with snow plow and spreader, utility body pick-up truck, an extended cab pick-up truck and utility vans.

The final ordinance for introduction was tabled from the last council meeting at the end of January. This ordinance deals with the height of beachfront homes near 19th Street, making it the same as what is allowed for the residential oceanfront one and two family zone (R-O-1 and R-O-2), as per the new base flood elevation ordinance adopted by council Jan. 10.

At that meeting, council unanimously approved building height and elevation changes, commonly referred to as base flood elevation plus 2, requiring homes to be constructed at 2 feet above base flood elevation. The ordinance was introduced Nov. 29, 2012. 

Two ordinances up for public hearing and adoption Thursday evening also deal with zoning and bonds. The first will revise the city’s zoning law, expanding permitted and conditional uses in the drive-in business zone. The second is a $5.29 million bond ordinance for improvements related to Hurricane Sandy, including beach repairs.

Consent agenda items of note include: award of a contract for professional consulting services for FEMA flood map review, no contractor selected yet; award of a contract for lease of the Ninth Street parking lot to North End Partnership of Linwood, signed to Thomas Spadafora, at a rate of $22,500 for 2013, with a 2 percent increase for the following four years; award of professional service contract totaling $54,000 with Czar Engineering for renovations to the first floor of City Hall; award of municipal public defender contract in the amount of $34,577 to Douglas K. Walker, who has served as the city’s public defender since 2007 (this is a $1,000 increase over his 2012 rate); and award of a contract to Richard N. Best Associates, Inc. for the repair and maintenance of the parking systems for the 2013 calendar year.

The Ocean City Council agenda packet for Thursday, Feb. 14

Other consent agenda items:

A Resolution to Authorize the Advertisement of Specifications for City Contract #13-33, Installation & Repair of the Airport Lighting & Facilities

A Resolution Authorizing the Award of City Contract #12-69, Supply & Installation of Flooring at the Ocean City Arts Center ($42,750) to MBT Contracting Corporation in Lincoln Park, NJ

A Resolution Approving a Special Event Permit for a Fireworks Display for First Night Ocean City, Inc. on January 1, 2014

A Resolution Approving a Special Event Permit for a Fireworks Display for Gilamco, Inc. on June 6, 2013 at Wonderland Pier

A Resolution Authorizing the Award of a Contract to Fire & Safety Services, Ltd for Warranty, Maintenance and Service of the Pierce Fire Trucks for the Department of Fire and Rescue Services for the 2013 Calendar Year

A Resolution Authorizing the Award of a Contract to VCI, Emergency Vehicle Specialists for Maintenance and Service of the Department of Fire and Rescue Services Ambulances for the 2013 Calendar Year

A Resolution Authorizing the Award of a Contract between the City of Ocean City and Edmunds and Associates, Inc. for the 2013 Software Maintenance Contract for the Financial Management System

A Resolution Authorizing the City’s Participation in State Contract #T-2006, Vehicles, Passenger Vans 7/8/12/15 Passenger for the Purchase of One (1) 2013 or Newer Chevrolet Express 15 Passenger Van

A Resolution Consenting to the Proposed Water Quality Management (WQM) Plan Amendment

A Resolution Authorizing the Payment of Claims

A Resolution Approving Tax Overpayment Refunds 2013–7 to 9

A Resolution Authorizing Transfers of Appropriations Reserves of the 2012 Local Municipal Budget Per N.J.S.A. 40A: 4-59

A Resolution Authorizing An Emergency Temporary Appropriation