All you guys, I'll start with the roll call here. Steve Bodner >> here. Uh Joe Cassidy >> here. >> George Dick >> here. >> Jerry Hathaway,
>> Jim Moffett here, >> Bob Morris. >> I think that does it. Uh we have a couple of just minor uh changes to the agenda that you have in front of you. U
Jerry Hathaway is unable to be here because he uh was diagnosed with pneumonia the other day. I believe he is listening in but not participating is the latest word I had from Jerry. Uh also the city manager is out of town. Uh
he was supposed to give the report on the uh safe streets and roads application grant. Uh Steve, will you be able to uh talk to that a little bit? >> Yes. >> Down the line. >> Yes, sure, Jim. >> Okay. Uh,
also I'd like you to talk a little bit about the next subject, the selection of committee chairperson and secretary and why that's on the agenda. >> Sure. Um, the uh the reason that is on is under pursuant to city resolution
each of the committees um on a yearly basis um are to uh name the chairperson and secretary. So candidly, I think with our group, well, I'll specifically address the chairperson. I think it's
merely a formality. Um I think Jim's done a great job as far as being um chairperson indicated a willingness to continue in that role. Uh which as the leazison, but also just a member of the member from lay on from city
council, but member of the community appreciate all you've done uh Jim. So um what I you know regarding your position uh the chairperson you know I would gladly nominate you to be chairperson to
um for you know for this coming year um and continuing to continue in that role. I know I'll just address for a moment the we're also required to uh have the same vote for the secretary. Um, I think
Jerry's done a great job with that. I think maybe we would would want to defer that until Jerry is is here. Um, I think Joe's graciously agreed to take notes for us and perform that function for today. But, um, I'll leave it up to you,
Mr. Chairman, as far as whether we should defer that vote for Jerry being here or not. Um I don't think there's g there's no downside to us um doing it at a subsequent meeting but the reason we need we're doing it because that's what resolution uh requires us to do. Um so
as I said you know I'm nominating you Mr. Moffett as our chairperson for to continue for 2026. >> Okay. Uh yeah, I think it's wise to uh defer till next month. Uh our selection
of Jerry again as uh secretary. He's done a great job in the past several months. U and I accept the nomination as chairperson going forward in 2026. >> Okay. So, do you want to put that to a
vote? >> Okay. Uh all in favor of uh Jim Moffett being chairperson for uh 2026. >> Yes. Yep. >> Oppose. >> That's good because I broke down
unanimous before. >> All right. And I I I agree and uh very proud and honored to have the responsibility for a a very very good committee here. Thank you. Uh,
>> congratulations. >> I'm I'm going to jump ahead. We have a a guest here, Tony, engineer from uh Westgate May, who uh you made a presentation, I think what within the last couple weeks uh over Westgate May
in regard to the project. Uh so that's one of our key issues going forward as far as the bicycle and pedestrian advisory committee goes. So uh if you take some
time now you and if George wants to pitch in with your wisdom uh we would we would uh appreciate that as well. Attorney I I I turn it over to you. >> Thank you. Um so we're still in the
conceptual phase. So, we just met with the HPC at a pre-application meeting last week. Um, we've reviewed it with the mayor of both um the previous mayor and obviously uh George and uh Mayor Mullik has seen it as well. Uh we kind
of landed on I I handed out a proposed bridge style packet to you. Um just it'll generally look like this like with an arch style bridge. But um if you switch to page three, the last page of the packet, uh that's most like um
what's going to probably end up being there design element wise with the bridge abutments, the color, um the camber, um everything. So, um, aesthetically, that's probably going going to be what it it's most like. Um,
and I handed I put a plan in front of you. I could go over generally um some design elements that were um looking at for bicycle safety. Um, so the the approaches are both going to be ADA compliant. Um, it's a 10- foot wide
multi-use trail, so it'll be for bicycle and pedestrian uh access. Um it'll be built to Ashtto standards. Um and we will incorporate um some kind of ballard um maybe one or two ballards on each end
of the bridge to stop any low-speed vehicles, golf carts, anything like that from approaching the bridge. Um because it is uh just for pedestrians, bicycles use only. Um the whole path isn't proposed to be illuminated or anything. Um, when I talked to my design team
yesterday, um, possibly put a, uh, like an LED solar ballard top, something just so nobody runs into them. Something to, >> that probably makes sense. >> Something to talk about. Um, >> nothing on the bridge though. >> Nothing on the bridge. >> We don't want any We don't want it lit
up at night for multiple reasons. Homeowners and then also birds. >> Yep. Yep. >> Nope. Dark dark skes and everything. >> Dark skies. Yep. Um so um for the bicycle committee I don't know if how much width you guys would prefer. Um we
definitely want the approach to be safe um for any bicycle um crossing but uh we don't want people flying over this bridge uh either. >> Yeah. And one of the comments that we had during some of our board of commissioners meetings is, oh, people
are coming flying off this bridge because their vision of the bridge was it's a bridge, an arch. Um, the camber is less than a foot. >> So, it's basically a flat bridge. And that's why I think Tony pointed out the
last one because the the some of them on the of the pictures and remember these are just renderings. They're not the actual bridge. It will It looks like it's going to be closest to the one on the last page three, but
you can look at some of the other pictures and see how um like for example, the picture on page two is extremely um the larger bridge over that dam there, there is very very little camber
and and that's kind of the effect you're going to get. You're also not going to get in the first picture that looks like a bunch of stone as the abupment. That the first picture on page one that looks like stone. That is not what the abutments are going to look like.
They're going to look more like the one on the back page >> on page three. >> On page three, which are somewhat covered in snow. >> It'll be a concrete abutment with >> concrete peers on on piles. Yeah. >> Yeah. So, I just want to make that clear. Um, and since this is being shown
and people can view this, I want to make sure everybody's really clear. These are renderings. This is not the actual bridge. These were the the plans that went to the HPC to look at. We don't have an HP. That's not in our historic preservation committee
uh commission area. It is for Kate May. They reviewed it. We're I can go back to them uh for final approval on that. And George, if I recall, um Tony, I know you were at the at that meeting in general. They were very favorable as far
as um the the bridge itself made some very minor um suggestions as far as um >> perhaps I think maybe a discussion just as far as what the decking materials are going to be, railing. >> Um I think some of the concerns that uh
were discussed which were already being addressed were the the ballards um as well. Just uh with that, I don't know if there's anything else you want to add as far as HPC's comments that aren't reflected necessarily in in here or not, just so um so the members here have a a
full flavor as far as >> Yeah, thank you. The HBC mostly talked about incorporating some kind of wood element. So um I talked to my design team yesterday asking for eBay wood. It's like a very strong dense wood for the decking itself. Um and they said
that's getting harder and harder to get. That's actually out of South America. So, um, we'll reach out to the manufacturer, um, and make sure that's that's feasible. Um, and I'll have probably a better answer by the time we get in front of the the Kate May city council and the HPC for their official
application. Um, that was their their main concern. >> What What is the trail out to Mount Vernon Beach? Is that the railings are wood? What is the decking on it? Is that >> That's uh >> tracks. >> It's tracks. So I would think that
>> we could consider doing the same kind of and it's just for maintenance and availability of the material. >> That material will cost way more than TX will. I mean significantly more. >> Yeah. I um I know it was a discussion
point. I'm not sure and I'm sure um Tony HPC can I'm sure that'll be a subsequent conversation. I think you know I know they wanted to just more information along those lines. So, we'll I think we're all headed in the same direction though with um ultimately with you know
with this um I mean things that jump out to me George just what you had touched on you know the the level as far as with uh with the bridge I think it's um that's a significant issue you know can we look in terms of one not just pe getting you know people back and forth
between Kate May and West Kate May in a safe way but part of that being the fact that it's not going to be an arked bridge the ballers as well from a safety standpoint. Um, my understanding is they're going to be removable ballards too for any type of for purposes that
would need to need to be removed. But, um, you know, in and of itself, I mean, just looking at it as well, it's a really nice design. You know, it's a really nice looking bridge. And I think, you know, my sense is personally looking
at this, it I think it's going to some be something that's going to like fit in well with the landscape there. Um, I was thinking personally it's going to look awesome. I mean, right now you have a a two sides of a lot that are overgrown with fragmitees and fragmitees are not
an invasive species, but to the level that they're there, they are invasive. Uh, so we needed to talk about what we do with that, how we landscape it. I think it'll be a beautiful addition. I mean, if you go by there now, it's just a lot. This will be, you know, and I think that
I told you guys previously, we have people in West Kate May, and I'm hoping that we can add some Kate May people that are willing to do landscaping and maintain friends of the bridge, if you will. Um, at least on our side. We'll see if they want to do your side, too.
But I think we maybe we can get another group on the other side. >> Yeah, I look I see that happening. >> Yeah, I do, too. everybody. I mean, it it could look spectacular. And I I think that, you know, a lot of the concerns that are out there, I understand them,
but I think once this is all in place, a lot of those concerns will be alleviated. >> So, >> just to touch on George's George's point, it looks like a lot, but it is actually a paper street. So, it's not even a block or a lot. It's literally right away on each side for West Kate
May and the B uh the city of Kate May. Um, it's actually a paper street to to be developed in in a way. >> Yeah. I got a couple questions for you or I'll package them all in one. What is what is the timeline schedule uh for
going from where we are here today till it's >> completed, the construction is completed and it's usable for the uh for the public. And and tied into that, >> what what is the plan as far as funding goes and
What's the plan as far as funding goes? >> Yes. So, to touch on your first point, we're probably targeting the end of this year best case scenario for construction um to have it complete. Um the the big fly in the ointment right now is we're just vetting all the conceptual getting a a permit ready package uh to submit to
D. Once we have the buyin from HBC, from yourselves, from all the commissioners, once everybody's on the same page, uh we would submit to D and they have 90 days statutoily. So that's three months and they always ask for a 30-day extension. So call it four um after we submit that
package and then there's some back and forth for some revisions um to get those permits in hand. Then we have to go out to bid, call it another month. So um as soon as we decide on all the design elements and everything, it's probably six months to even get it out to bid and then you know one or two month
construction time period depending on manufacturing. Um, a lot of times these bridge come one or two pieces uh from Minnesota is usually where they ship it from on a back of a flatbed, believe it or not. Um, and then they'll they'll crane it in. So, the construction isn't
all a ton of time. It's mostly clearing and and driving the piles for the abutments is most of the construction to be honest. Um, funding wise, um, the burough west Cape May has spearheaded a lot of the funding opportunities. Um, what really kicked this off was the
local recreation improvement grant from the DCA. Um, they got an $85,000 grant to fund uh a lot of the preliminary design. Um, the geotechnical analysis, all of that to get us to this point. Um, there is um going to be another phase
that needs to be done for this, the permitting that is talked about and final design elements and going out to bid and all of that. Um but to fund the construction and construction inspection and contract administration, the rest of the that piece of the project has been we believe completely funded by a
$700,000 grant from um the local aid infrastructure fund um which is a discretionary fund fund from the DEOT >> DOT J dot. Yeah. >> Yep. So, um, there's a good amount of grant money. Um, I I believe there's
some capital funds if necessary from the city of Kate May and the burrow to to tie any pieces together, but it's almost essentially completely covered by grants at this point. >> Yeah, there are a few items that the grant won't cover and the agreement is that we'll split it. Westgate man will
split that amount. It should not be significant. I know that you guys had in your budget $165,000. >> It won't be. that was based on only getting an open spaces grant which would have been half the amount. It would have been 350,000. That's where the 165
basically came from. So, uh there should there are some things that they the grant doesn't cover that that will and as Tony says a majority of this should be completely covered. >> Yeah. And and that's look um I know you work very hard to to get that and that's
a that's a key piece you know of the project. So, I mean, um, talk about a win-win, you know, that the fact that such a large piece of the funding is is going to be covered by u by way of the grant. So, um, it's a, you know,
glad we're we're in a in a position to keep moving forward. >> Um, >> well, you know, clearly Westgate May is taking the lead on this from a all aspects. this guy right here. >> Uh there is there any participation
from the city of Kate May? And if so, what what is it as far as helping to apply for grant money? Uh having a say in Yeah, this design's right or this type of uh landscaping should be there. >> Well, I think that's what that first
step was the HPC. I said, we don't have an HPC for that area, >> right? Um and so that you know that's actually pushed the timing back at you know a month or so. But uh in terms of the landscaping um
you know I know you guys were interested in talking about fences. We're going to go to our neighbors on both sides and talk to them about how we can help them feel comfortable with the project um in terms of landscaping and in terms of potentially putting fences on both sides
of the property. uh which is not an ex you know super expensive thing but it can be done and I know that you guys have talked about that too. >> Yeah and I I can touch on that as well like the discussions as far as with the bridge there's been it's been a it's been a fluid conversation between West
Kate May and Kate May regarding this particular project. West Kate May has taken the lead as far as with the design work um as well as with the um the permitting and um and and the grant work which we're um appreciated that West
Cape May has done that. The conversations Yeah. have been ongoing. City manager has been um involved in these discussions. um as Tony and George both said, you know, they've they've gone before u the the HPC to have a discussion with them
regarding the design concept of the bridge. You know, we're having these conversations here as well. So the the details um and the overall project are something that you know the the aspect that so West Kate where Kate May is
contributing to this to um address the elements that are one on the city side of the bridge but also to to ensure that this is a a seamless project between the two between the two communities. Yeah,
we certainly have appreciated the support with from Paul and from Mayor Zach and Steve. They obviously when you're doing a project like this, you have people have lots of questions and they've been real helpful uh spreading the word about what we're
trying to do here. And so that's that's been really good from from a standpoint of working together. >> Good. GL glad to see the cooperations. Uh, one thing on your timeline. Have you taken in Kate May has a moratorum on pile driving the summer months? So, I
would hate to see that. >> Yeah. Well, we wouldn't be trying to do this in the summer. It'd be too busy on on first >> bas Yeah. And basically on the timing, we're not going to be able to have this ready before the fall. So, it actually might work out perfectly. We'll get
approval and we'll do it, you know, maybe late fall and so it'll be ready for the following season. And us people who live here and run every day and walk our dogs, we can use it all winter and test run it for everybody. >> Okay. Any any other questions from
>> So um best case scenario, when would the actual final project be completed? Just >> late fall this time next year. A year from now, would we be buttoning up ripening cutting the >> Christmas season? We could decorate it
for Christmas and have a little celebration. >> Chamber of Commerce will have it right on >> Exactly. That's pretty would be kind of cool, huh? >> Take the parade route through there. >> That's a good idea. >> Uh, one of the other things uh from a
bicycle standpoint re and it's related to the bridge. We have a project right now that's going to start soon that's running down First Avenue which is from
the where exit zero is and and the um Shore House Canada is that street we're redoing that we're doing all the drainage. We're doing all the the markings on that. So that will have shared it. It will um the the one side of the street has basically two parking
three parking spots. We're probably going to eliminate them. So, one side of the street will be uh completely accessible to anybody going down there. And then the next step hopefully when they start Sunset Boulevard, we're hoping for an elevated intersection so
that people can cross over uh with, you know, press the button, you get a flashing light. I'd rather have a traffic light for the summer, but that's not going to probably happen. Uh, and then we're going to look at ways we can have get a grant to do all of Pacific
Avenue, which is the the route from west side, we've talked about this a lot from the west side of uh, West Cape May. And then once Sunset Boulevard's um, finished and Steve and I actually walked this um, they're going to have an
off-road off the roadway, bike path and uh, walking path right at Shur House, Canada. That's where it starts and that's the intersection that would be raised and we're tying it trying to tie it all into the bridge. So, so people from the point could go down go across the bridge, they can get down to Beach
Avenue without having to deal with anything. So, we have a larger picture here. A lot of people focus on the bridge because it's it's, you know, it's it's it's a you know, it's a cost relatively costly structure. Um, but it's paid for by
grants, which is our tax money anyway. And this we're looking at the whole island and how we can tie people to different places. And I think it once we have that bridge that gives us an opportunity to get people down at Beach Avenue, get people into Kate May on the
bike lane there, too. >> Great. Thank you. You're welcome. >> Absolutely. >> Anything else on this topic? >> I think it's a great project. It's been too too many years. >> Thank you, Tony. Absolutely. Appreciate you, >> Tony. Thank you very much for taking the time to come today. Appreciate it.
George, thanks for arranging for Tony to be here as well. So, and all the work that you've done on this. Really appreciate it. >> Yeah, Tony did, you know, Tony downplayed his role in this. He uh you know, he knew that that we had been talking in this group about this bridge. I been talking about this bridge for 10
years. >> Uh I think that, you know, Tony and his team really did a nice job helping us with the grants and all that. So, they they need a a thank you. Also, >> I appreciate it. >> Forward to getting this project actually built. >> Next step.
>> Good luck going forward. >> Yep. Thank you. >> Thanks. >> Do you have any questions? George has my contact. Um I could leave that with any one of you. Again, it's conceptual, but >> Okay. >> It's hold on to >> hold on to to the end of the meeting. Survey has an opportunity to take a look
at it if they want to and make sure it gets back to >> I'll take it back to Okay. Sounds great. Thank you. Y >> Tony, what's your last name again? >> Chadwell. C H A D Well L. >> Thank you. >> All right. >> Thank you, buddy. Appreciate it.
>> Uh just continuing on old business. Uh the city manager was going to give a uh or I would I was hoping the city manager would give a report on uh this city of Cape May's application uh for a grant on
safe streets and roads which would be available to us. U but instead of the city manager Steve I asked if you you would do this. You seem to be pretty knowledgeable on what's going on. >> Sure. Well, um, what I would like to do
is I I'll I'll say this. Unfortunately, um, yeah, Paul's unavailable today, so it would be I'm I'm sure we can get him to come to our next meeting. I would ask him to come to our next meeting to provide more information. Um, but I do
need to want to provide this information. So, um you know, the Kate May had applied to the United States Department of Transportation for a grant um for the
Cape Island pedestrian and bike plan um to be uh to be reviewed. And unfortunately, we received word back um that our grant application uh the city's grant application was not
approved for for this coming year. Um yeah, >> I'm sorry, Steve, can I ask you to repeat what the application was for? >> Yeah, it was it was for the Cape Island pedestrian and bike plan. And this was it was grant funding to uh
you know to to review that plan and to um you know for steps for implementation. And if that you know what we're what we're doing is we need that plan to be able to move forward with other improvements. We would have um we were seeking I believe
approximately $200,000 um through that particular grant application. Um >> excuse me. say in we applied for $200,000. >> Yes, that's correct. So, we applied for a grant um is approximately $200,000. I
don't know. I don't recall the the exact number, but uh $200,000. The grant has been um been denied. We have asked for there's not an appeal process. it's denied, but we there is a a process that you can um get an
explanation a debrief as far as uh as far as with the with the process. So um >> from the state, >> this is from No, this is from the the federal government >> United States Department of Transportation. Um
we are I've asked the city manager to schedule a debrief with the US DOT. uh to so they can give us feedback on the application for the city to have that feedback. We the city has been
invited to apply for the grant again next year. Um, I would say this in the in the the um the notice that the city received in the denial, they did indicate that there was a significant
um interest in the grant monies that were available for this past for this round of funding. 75% of the applications were not approved. So, um, look, just based off the percentages, those those aren't great numbers, you
know. So, uh, we were in the 25% that was was not approved. They anticipate that there's going to be approximately a billion dollars available the next year in funding. Again, that's information provided by the US DOT. Um, so that that
being said, you know, we're we're going to go through the process of getting the debrief. Um, and I would like to have the city manager come to a bike and pedestrian meeting. And he intended on
being here today, but for um a scheduling conflict to just discuss what um what can be done to try to move forward. Um, so that's that's that's the unfortunate update that I have to
provide regarding regarding that particular grant application. Well, from from from what I can see, uh our our our plans to u start work working on these uh
prioritize infrastructure projects uh that the consulting firm uh presented last year to us. Um that work is going to be minimized. Uh I believe the city manager has put uh approximately
$125,000 in the city budget which has not yet been approved. U so instead of let's say if we had gotten the $200,000 grant uh instead of $325,000
or so, uh we're back to $125,000 of money to work with. um ourselves, you know, and honestly in the overall scheme of things, that's not a whole lot of money to do the things we're looking looking at doing, which uh
get up into the if we were to do everything and we obviously couldn't do everything, but we'd be talking about the millions of dollars. So, u yeah, a bit of a setback to us uh here.
I I I think if we if we continue just to look at grants as our way of going forward, um we're not going to be able to accomplish a whole lot unless we get a lot more fortunate than we did this past year in getting grants. Uh so we
need in my opinion to be looking maybe a little bit more internally at the budget uh if we're going to get any improvements done. uh regarding the infrastructure projects that we all feel we we need will be improve improvements
to the uh uh to the city to the residents to the visitors of Cape May in in the coming years. So we have a challenge in front of us uh from a financial standpoint as far as uh moving forward. Uh I'd like to see if we can
maybe get some in between now and the next meeting honestly to have a u a session with the city manager uh to get his thoughts and uh I'd be happy to take that responsibility and anybody else who'd like to to join me in that
conversation um I' I'd welcome your uh your help and your assistance thoughts thoughts about this uh little bit of a setback right now with the grant being
denied. And and also if 75% of the applicants were also denied, that means there's going to be a lot of competition next year for these big pot of money to go up. There's certainly no guarantee that uh we're going to be approved for
whatever we uh submit next year. Uh may or may not get that. uh and we could have a lot of discussion about that in the months coming forward. >> So Jim, what I would just add is I I think it's a good good suggestion. Um I
think having a conversation with the city managers is uh would be beneficial. So look, I would um we can talk about how to arrange that and make that come together. >> Yeah. Okay. Yeah, I'd appreciate your help with that. That's Steve. And uh you
know, as as you think about this in the coming coming days or so, uh if you'd like to join me, uh let just let me know. >> Anything anything else on the uh the grant application, Steve,
>> or anybody else? Your thoughts? >> Nothing for me, Jim. Okay, we can um then go to the ebike legislation update which u Jerry Hathway was uh preparing to give a presentation
on. As you know, Jerry's unavailable uh because of his diagnosis of pneumonia. So, uh I just have a thought or two I like to pass along. I think we all got a a copy of the u uh
proposed legislation at the state level uh going forward. Steve, you sent that out maybe two weeks ago or so uh to us. Uh I glanced at it. I don't know if anybody else had a
chance to glance at it or read it. Uh it is uh pretty heavy duty as far as absorbing everything that's that's in there. Uh my take is uh I'd like to ask every committee member to take a good
hard look at that between now and the next meeting so that we're at least aware of u what the state is thinking about as far as really their first legislation
of ebikes. Uh I understand uh this is this is from Jerry in a conversation a week or two ago that there are opposing groups opposing it uh who are advocacy groups for ebikes
u and they have their reasons I'm not sure I matter of fact I am sure I don't know I don't understand what they all are um but there's going to be a a tugof-war in uh in Trenton over the next couple of weeks or months
as far as trying to get some legislation through. Um, and it probably be a political football there from what I can see coming up. Um, also you should have received a u uh an update on what the uh
city of Kate May is doing as far as the ordinance that was passed at the December meeting. U I see it as a first step. It's a It was um written and designed to be in conjunction with what um lower township
ordinance which was passed last summer and uh I think it's a West Cape May ordinance that um is now in effect in in in that community. Uh so they're they're very similar uh by by design. Uh but but
again I see that just as the as the first step in uh coming coming to grips with uh how how can we make it safer for the community both uh ebike riders uh pedestrians
u traffic vehicles etc. Uh because there's there's a lot of ideas being passed along. Uh, and I would if if you want to really get into this a little bit, there is a lot of information if you just go out and
Google ebikes and then ebike legislation, uh, ebike statistics and and things like that. It's uh, so I I'll just leave it at that without trying to explain all the different things that are out there. But if if you
want to become knowledgeable on on the subject uh and I do uh and Jerry already is that you know take a take a few minutes or maybe a few hours even uh to go out there and see what the what the issues
are, what some best practices are, what the advocacy people uh feel is good and not so good about uh ebikes and the ebike legislation uh across the tree. So, so my homework assignment to uh to
each of you is uh read and try and understand what's going forward at the at the state level as far as this legislation uh both from the people that drew up the legislation and the groups that are opposing it.
thoughts thoughts from you all around the table. >> Yes, >> I I have been following quite a bit on and since I'm an ebike rider, um the the law that the the governor proposes would make sure everybody had
registration, license plates, and insurance. And I don't think they're all bad things right there. I think that's a that's a good thing. But what he does is he lumps all all the ebikes into one category. And that's where most of the push back is
coming. You know, if you get your, you know, your child, well, a child shouldn't have an ebike, but uh a bike that'll go 40 miles an hour should not have to pay the same insurance as a bike who can't go more than 15. And uh you know, it would just be not fair to to
have the burden, the whole everybody doing it and the cost factor. So, but that's that's the main crux of it all. They they want a one-sizefits-all and it's it's not a one-sizefits-all. And plus, they don't include scooters or
the little skateboards that go 25 30 miles an hour. So, they're not even included. That's that to me is an e in the same category. Right. >> So, >> so there's a lot of lot of wrestling yet to do. >> Yeah. And and the other part of Ebite
u going forward I would like us to pursue is um number one on the education line >> and how can we um get uh the schools involved uh because a lot
of a lot of this pertains to teenagers uh and and well I'm not sure about pre-teenagers but uh 12 14 16 year olds uh writing these and then also enforcement and uh if we have
legislation out there uh how how can how can we en enforce uh this and and the thoughts from the the various police departments around the uh uh comm community community. So, I kind
of have those those those two items in regards to ebikes on uh on our agenda to discuss and uh get more information on going forward. >> Anything else, Steve, on that? >> You summed it up, Jim. I mean, I think
we've had discussions about that. I think that's a focus of of um in part, you know, what we're working on at this this time of year, focus for, you know, for the year. So, we'll continue working on that. Um don't have anything else to add, Jim.
>> Okay. Uh before we get to new business, I skipped over uh a line item here. Approval of September, October, and November minutes. Uh and I have a copy of them with me. uh here.
Uh again, I I looked at them and I don't uh I I think they're absolutely fine. They capture in in some good detail what Jerry did u in in putting these minutes together. But u we're obligated to have
minutes and then have have the minutes approved. So, does everybody feel they're familiar enough with the minutes or trust Jerry enough that we can approve these today for October no September, October, and
November? >> I'll move to approve the minutes. >> I'll second it. >> Okay. All in favor? >> I >> I Anyway. Okay. Consider the minutes from uh the BPAC meeting in September, October, and
November as approved. uh move on to new business. Uh Bob, I'm going to ask you uh you gave me some uh little note notice about ai sidewalk issue. >> Yeah, since we're a pedestrian uh
>> advisory committee here. This is on Park Boulevard between Congress and Prairie Street. and it's been around. It's been this way for many, many, many years. >> The guide wires, >> but they're building a house right now on a piece of property right now. So,
now's the time to address it. But if you'll see in the middle of the sidewalk, they have guidelines uh for the telephone poles. Um there's all sorts of things. I never realized it was a problem till I had to push a double stroller with a back with a backpack chair on my back and you have to hop off
the curb and get into the street and then back up again. And it's it's really a lawsuit staring the city in the >> in the face. So, I mean, while all the construction's going on there, now would be a perfect time to remedy it. And I just want to get it to the proper people. And they said to, you know, when
we talked about what our duties were here, uh, Mr. Dietrich said to bring it up in a meeting and then present it to him and then he will present it. So I'm I'm going >> But we're It's on the agenda now. And this is in Kate May. It's not
>> This is Kate May. Yeah. Yep. It's right down the street from the VFW. >> Yeah. >> Across the street from the dentist and uh I don't know. I don't >> just for clarification Park Boulevard, doesn't it start >> at >> It starts at Grant Street
>> and then goes all the way >> in Congress. I don't. >> Right. >> So, >> but it's on the uh it's on the >> Yeah, there's two two blocks of Park Boulevard in Cape May >> and then it turns to West Cape May. >> And this is this is part of the two
blocks. >> This is Oh, there's OB. You're right. There is three. You're correct. >> Yeah. I this is a this is a spot I go by every single day when I run and cross the intersection at Perry right right there and you have to be on that side of
the street where you die >> that's where the roundabout is planned to go >> pass that right >> um one one thing I >> that's also that part of sidewalk is where the crosswalk is so we're directing the people to go down the sidewalk >> so it's
>> yeah because you want to cross Perry going to taco place. >> Yeah. >> Rather than on the other side where you're in in no land. >> Yeah. And these are anchored right in the middle of this of the sidewalk. >> Yeah. Actually, this actually the concrete was poured around this.
>> What came first, the poles or the sidewalk? >> The poles. >> So, they just went around them. >> But while they're, you know, building a house there, it was always a vacant lot. It was always a lot tied into that little house in the back. >> Yeah. >> But those people have left. >> Okay. >> And they're developing it. I don't know
how many units they're putting in, but >> yeah, that was an empty lot for a long time. >> Yep. >> Okay. >> Um, since you brought that street up, um, I want to mention that the roundabout is still a project that's out there. Um, potentially next year, next
winter, Park Boulevard is the extension. So, when you come to across the bridge into West Cape May from lower, you're in lower, there's a bike path on both sides of the road. When you hit Duckies and
the campground, that intersection, you're supposed to turn left and the bike path continues on Central Avenue and then to Park Boulevard, which gets you down Pulk Boulevard. It'll go about the round the roundabout and to that
road. One of the things that I'd like this group to consider for Cape May is putting either bike lanes or sharos on that section of Park Boulevard and Grant, which takes you right down to the beach. So, when we talked about this
before, I always said there's there's two ways you can get to the beach from West Cape May or from even from lower. One will be down Pacific across our new bridge and two will be coming down Seashore Broadway left on Central on the
park which already has bike lanes around the roundabout Grant Park Boulevard Grant and goes right to where the lifeguard uh station is. >> Y >> and so that but right now it there's no
markings at all. It's a actually it's a very lightly trafficked road. Uh it is is something that you know I feel safe running on with my dog all the time and and so it could it is a connector um >> y >> down to the beach >> and they only have parking on one side
of the street. >> Yes. >> Okay. So what do you think the next step should be? Again bring it to the attention of the uh city manager that we see this as a as a priority item. Steve.
>> So, I think I think we um look, we already anticipated that we're going to have uh the city manager come to our next meeting. Um I think these are issues obviously that he needs to hear. I'd like to to share this um this particular issue. Um because you're you
know what I'm seeing here is and Bob you're saying that there's an opportunity to address this here and now, but based off of the construction that's going on. So, so because there may be a time element here, I'd like to um you bring this to to his attention. You know, the other aspects of it. Look,
I think there are issues that Yeah, we we need to have Paul in the room to have a discussion with him. So, I think we're going to I know we're going to be building an agenda. We already have some, you know, at least at least one other issue for when he's here for our next time. And I would suggest that we
add um this conversation to to that for, you know, from when we when we have Mr. Dietrich here. Um, and in part because then we can all participate, the entire committee can participate in the conversation with them. >> Okay, >> good. >> So, that being said, um, I would just
just note since I think we're kind of on the topic of new business, one of the matters I think you'll be addressing, Jim, is when, um, when Bay will be meeting again. So, um, this I'm not Bob, I'm not going to let
this wait until our our next meeting. I'll bring this up to up to him right now. >> Yeah, that's why I think it's important to have a meeting with the city manager be before the next meeting. Otherwise, nothing gets done in the next month. >> Yeah. Next thing you know, it's >> and I >> and I I was going to wait till the end
of this meeting, but I I'm going to suggest we have a February meeting back to our schedule of the second Wednesday in of uh February, which I don't have my calendar in front of me, but >> that would be February 11th.
>> February 11th. >> Okay. So what we note that unless anybody objects that we'll have a meeting February 11th. >> Uh just for note I will be out of out of town in February and March. >> Okay. Well, if you you know if you can join in uh >> Yep. I will
>> remotely that would be great. Uh also on new business, George, you brought it up the uh the roundabout. I was under the impression that that was going to start like like around now. We're also under the impression it was
going to start in 2011. >> Um it it seems to always get pushed back. So I'm I'm going to have a meeting this quarter with Bob Church to get an update on it. But the earliest it would ever happen would be next winter and we'll see about that. >> Okay. What What's the reason for the
delay? Who who is it funding or is it just >> a lot of different things. It is not there is the the county is actually funding it. there's not grant money for it. So, I think that has a lot to do with it. >> Okay. >> Yeah. It's something that needs to
happen. Um I mean, it's just a horrible intersection. >> And now that we've we have much more traffic here over the last 10, 15 years, it's it's really there's really a need. I'm really surprised that there aren't, >> especially year round. It's just it's
crazy there. >> Yeah. It's it's such a hard intersection to navigate. So, it it's it's needed. Yeah, and I think everybody agrees with that. It's just a matter of getting it. The big hold up for a number of years was in order to do it correctly, we
needed to uh work out an agreement with the lumber yard and needed to have um I believe three or four parking spaces taken from them. And we were and then we the deal was we were going to give them on the other end up Park Boulevard. It
was going to be a trade-off, but it took a while to get that done and that's all been taken care of now. So, >> well, the young lumber yard's no longer the lumber yard going forward anyway. >> We'll see what it is. I'm sure it'll be developed. >> Yeah.
>> But I don't know what it is or when. It's zoned C2. They It's likely to My bet would be it's going to be some form of a um you know, it's zoned for C2, which means you go but stores five feet from the the curb. supposed to be like a
a downtown area. So, >> but you can't just put a parking lot there, which I know Kate may try to do one time. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Um it's that's not an acceptable use. It'll likely be stores on the first floor, condos on the second. That that's
just a guess there. I know no I have no inside information. Don't know anything about it. I just know what it's zoned for. >> Yeah. Good gossip though. >> No, please not gossip. That is what it's zoned for. That is the type of thing it can go there. That's that's how it make sure everybody hears
that up there. >> Big brother. >> Um any any other thing from the committee members want to bring up as far as the topic goes or before we uh have public comment which is probably not going to be extensive.
>> Okay. Um I >> I have a question. Um, how's it going in getting additional comm uh committee members? >> So, we had >> we were little light.
>> Yes, we could use um I know that we had worked to get additional committee members over the course of the course of the year. I mean um we're continuing to people that are listening to this live
stream right now, if you are interested in joining the bike and pedestrian advisory committee, um please express your interest to the city clerk. So, we have um put information out there to uh get interested residents to be on the
committee um can continue to do that. But, you know, here's where we are right now. Um I would say this, you know, there's um other committees in Kate May as well are not fully staffed at this time. So as as far as with the number of members,
so it's a it's an an ongoing endeavor. George, >> well, we know the same. I mean, we have the same in our burrow. We, you know, we have most of our commissions are completely full. We've added some new people. uh during an election campaign, it's great because you talk to everybody
and you find out you you you talk people and they're interested in certain things. So, um we used to have a few openings on some of our committees and I know that the same issues that you guys face. It's hard to get people to commit commit the time. >> Um you know, I know a lot of people are
interested in what happens, but it's hard to get them to. So, that's kudos to you guys are that are all here, which is great. >> Yeah. And I've had some conversation with Steve and with the mayor Mullik about this. Uh, and I have a little bit
of a a personal preference. U one is I'd like to see a female here as opposed to us all white men. Uh and I well some of us are old and and also I'd like to see it be a uh a resident of
Kate May uh so that we have we report to the the city council and and actually I' I've approached uh two um women in Cape May who I think would be great committee members uh but they also too busy.
They're already volunteering on three or four different organizations, nonprofit organizations primarily. Um, so I'm I'm still I'm I'm out there looking for uh at least one more person to bring on
board in the sometime next summer. >> Number of committee members. >> Pardon me. >> What's the preferred number that you want? >> I I I don't have a preferred number. I think one I think an addition of one would be very helpful at this point in time. >> Six currently. >> Yeah.
>> I think we had 10 when I first >> Well, >> yeah. Well, there there there's five voting members. Uh Steve is a non- voting member. >> Actually, I'm a voting member on on a on a committee. I'm a I'm a voting member. Yeah. Commissionard. I didn't I'd be non
voting. Okay. >> So, yeah. But um yeah, look, it's I I think that um I believe that we would the city has two vacancies at this point in time. So um yeah, that's where that's where we
>> I actually I actually thought about this a little bit because I mean obviously we have a pretty strong representation and have all the always from West Kate May which is great. It's great for us, right? Um, do you think I mean this is this blue sky um would it be advisable
to have a islandwide committee and then subcommittees for each of the towns because one of the discussions we've had in this meeting is that and Steve and I have talked about this because I had some people in West Kate May that were interested in joining again and the focus was on Kate May and I get it this
is a Kate May committee but would it make sense for us to have a larger group, not large, but an islandwide looking at the whole issues of the island and then each town has a couple of representatives to go back to
represent for their town. And that way because in this group, I mean, we have West Kate May, West Kate May, Kate May, >> Lower Township, >> Kate May. Uh, so we already have that in essence. You know, I try not to weigh too much in on on the issues specific to
Kate May because that's that they're your issues. I mean, if I have some knowledge, I can help. But maybe we'd look at it from a different angle and maybe people would want to be on that committee. You know, the bigger committee looking at the whole island and how it works together. And then the
Kate May subcommittee could go could be this committee and go to talk to Paul and the council here. We could have Westcape two West Kate May people. They could go to talk to our commission. I just just an idea of how
to look at this because we're so entwined. Everything that West Cape May does affects Cape May in terms of bicycle and pedestrian thing. Everything that Cape May does affects West Kate. Uh it affects lower it affects not so much
the point, but it would be good to hear their opinion on things because their people come to Kate May and how did they get here? Some come by bike. So I mean just an idea because that that when we had the grant to do the whole island I think that spirit of camaraderie amongst
the towns was good. Um the thing with GPI just just floating it there just not looking for discussion just saying that's some another way to look at it. >> Yeah I I need to give that some thought before I before I comment on it. The
thing about this committee is it has a reporting structure up to city council for Cape May city council. I don't there's no islandwide top level organization that I know of uh
that looks at islandwide issues. Every every community looks after their own issues even though there's partnership like with the bridge. Uh, so I I I just don't know how how official maybe it's maybe it's an unofficial
uh islandwide committee that's build builds off of what we're doing here. I I got to give that some thought. has um does Westgate May have you thought about having a um an independent committee and
>> are you forming one or is it still >> I'm bring an idea or I'm not putting you on a spot trying to get a get a handle because I know these are these are issues that are important for >> I I think that there's a lot of >> interest in our town >> because we have the through road going
down Broadway and roads that tend to get a lot of traffic, a lot of bike traffic, a lot of ebike traffic. So, there's a lot of interest. I think that if we did form a committee, we would have no problem getting volunteers for it. I think you would agree on that. Um I mean, I think if I said, "Hey, we're
going to form a committee, we'd have 10 people tomorrow." Um we have held off on it a little bit. We did talk about the idea when you guys told us, hey, look, we're going to try to focus this group more on Kate May,
which I find fine. That's not a big deal for us. We like, we enjoy being on it because we want to hear firsthand what's going on and if we can add input and see how some of the projects we want to dovetail. Um, are we going to do a committee? I
just threw that idea out there as a way to look at the whole island picture and we would have a subcommittee in K West Kate May too that so as we're trying to formulate the idea on what's the best way to serve our community the whole community uh on the island. So
>> yeah I um I would need to think about it you know more as well. I guess, you know, my initial thought is particularly, you know, we're talking um as you know, I'm looking at from the Kate May standpoint, you're looking at from West Kate May standpoint, but I think we're
all looking at it from a global standpoint. The issues we're talking about, they're very fluid between the two towns anyway. And we're address we are addressing those and I think in a very productive, you know, manner. I think what you're saying is do we just kind of like increase the scope a little bit um
>> or formalize the whole idea that >> the the mission of a group maybe it stays this group but the mission is to actually it's a KMA group since they're the dominant player on the island it but it focuses on the whole island
and then there's a subcommittee that goes and that's in essence that's kind of what the way it's working now. Yeah. So I think it's I appreciate you raising the topic. I think it is something would need to need to have a little bit more. >> I'm not asking for answer. I'm just I
think about these crazy things all the time, you know, and the lot, you know, if I shared all the ideas that pop in my head during the day, you wouldn't want to be here. Uh but this is one that I mean obviously I'm pretty passionate about getting people around safely and whether you're driving a car, a
motorcycle, an ebike, a golf cart, anything. and it's all our problem and it's all our opportunity to fix. So for me it's like we're all in this together. We couldn't done this idea of having a
pedestrian bicycle bridge even though we spearheaded it without Kate May agreeing to support us on this. So those things came out of this, you know, out of this meeting, which is great. So I'm not I'm not suggesting we form our own group and disappear.
And I'm not I'm not suggesting that either. I was just I'm just curious because when you only from this standpoint when you talk about like bringing like the idea would be a voice for each community there. So to
me the way to do that is you to me you start bottom up you know in in that regard. Um so if it were and again this is we're just having a conversation here. I'm thinking if there's people in the point that have issues that they want to want to address, you start
talking locally. West Kate May, I'm sure you have these conversations all the time. You know, that that start locally as well. Um something that we can think about. So, and for those that are listening here, >> look, this is to a certain degree, you
know, at this point, you know, this is a think tank type of thing. You know, we're talking about different ideas, different concepts. So everything that we're talking about right now is just is is just that um we get a lot of work done just by bringing up ideas and some of them end up going somewhere, some
don't necessarily. But I only mention that because I know people listen into this and they say a committee or a commission is going in a certain direction. It doesn't necessarily mean that as well. We have >> and thanks for clarifying that and I 100% agree and and I I wouldn't have
brought it up but I think this is important. It's a it's a big topic on everybody's mind, a lot of people's minds here on in all the towns and and it's a it's in the forefront of the people that I speak to in the public and
um it's certainly a topic that should be discussed. One of the issues with government is you have ideas and this is a forum to share ideas here. Uh this is not we're saying we're going to do this. This is this is >> we're an advisory group. This is an
advisory group. I mean, it's it's we we feel I think the takeaway for the public is that we're passionate about this >> and that we want to make sure that we're doing the best thing we can for our overall community, Kate May, West Kate
May, the point and lower on this side of the bridge. That that is the point of this particular discussion. And just to throw another idea out on top of on top of that is at the uh at the township level or
lower and the uh the whole school community that at least there's an organization there. It crosses the bridge. Yes. Uh and they have they have some similar
issues. I think one of the big issues as far as ebikes go is all the high school kids and junior high kids uh on the other side of the bridge who parents are giving them ebikes and without much
training much education etc. So, you know, it that that may be just another avenue to consider. Uh the the lower township including Kate May, West Kate May, Kate May Point. Um
I guess the Villis is included in that >> out out to out towards Rio Grand. Anything else? Okay. Uh, do I hear a vote to adjourn the meeting? >> Voting to adjourn. >> Second. >> Second.
>> I >> Okay. Can the meeting adjourn? >> Um, do I have a little homework to do? We're going to go see the uh city manager and u meet again on February, what do you say it was? The 11th. >> 11th.
>> Yeah. >> All right. >> Thank you everybody. Can I Can I keep >> Can I keep this? I think it's a seafood take out. Oh my god.