Now, do we have any maps left? I have about half a case of them. We give them out >> the National Night Out. give out like lights and maps and stuff like that and we won't have enough for this year. >> I think whatever we have is is the stock
we have. I don't think we had a good >> Thank you. >> Thanks. We're all set. >> We're all We're all good. Okay. >> All right. Uh, I think this is all the people we're going to have anyway. So, let's uh call the meeting to order and
start with our pledge of allegiance. >> I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
>> Okay. our our secretary is not here. Um so I'm looking for somebody to take notes. Thank you, Joe. Uh I'll do the I'll do the roll call today. Um Steve Bodner
>> here. >> Joe Cassidy >> here. >> George Dick absent. Jerry Hathaway absent. Bob Morris >> here. >> Tom Roth >> here. >> Jim Moffett >> here. U city manager is not here so uh we
won't hear from him. I think we're just going to dedicate this uh session today to the open house that's coming up a week from today in May 20th at convention hall um and talk about all the the preparation that we still need to do and uh maybe just a little run
through of how that uh open house is is going to take place. So Steve, I'll turn it over to you. >> Thanks, Jim. Um I appreciate that. And although um so Paul is truly unavailable. He's uh he's out of town today. So that's why he's uh unavailable
for this particular meeting. And even though the city manager is not here, I can actually give an update on a few of the of the city projects. Good. >> Um so um first I'll start with this. the um if you've driven past the the new
police station that's going up first off, it's going up very quickly. Um which is which is great. Uh we're glad to see that u you know that that taking place. But in addition u may notice that the sidewalk um at the police station
was I think it was demoed last Friday or or so. Um if anybody who takes note of that that demolition was associated with the planned sidewalk extension connecting the sidewalk to the to the nature walk. So it's all part and parcel of the police of the project that's
taken place the building of the police station and upgrading and taking care of that sidewalk associated with that area as well. >> Uh just a question on sidewalks. um this the re other sidewalk project which is
repairing and putting in new and repaired sidewalks throughout the community. Do you know how that stands? What what streets are being um attended to right now? So, yes, as a matter of fact, um
the so that the capital sidewalk project that you're referring to, Jim, I think there's a $600,000 budget um for that. Um the project was just awarded in December of 2025. Um the contractor has
started on Ocean Street. Um, I know that in particular areas that have been um that are going to that there's going to be extensive work done on are those areas that were uh previous previously
uh reviewed and approved related to um in particular Colombia um Columbia Avenue um and Virginia Avenue uh were were viewed as areas that had some extensive amount of uh sidewalk
repair that needed to be um needed to be done and we're in the process of that. But I know that the contractor started on Ocean Street. So, I'm I'm believe that there's other areas as well that are going to be addressed through the
sidewalk project, but those areas in particular had been previously identified and the city has made outreach to all of the homeowners. um who are really responsible for maintaining the uh the sidewalk in that area. Um and we're working on a it's a
it's a split program where the homeowner homeowner takes care of a certain uh percentage of it actually much less than the 50/50 and there the 50/50 program referring to something that had been been done in the past. Uh through way of this funding it's actually a even a a
more significant savings to to homeowners. they're actually paying you an even smaller percentage of the overall cost, I believe. Um, and we did an assessment was done for the actual cost for literally each and every piece of sidewalk that would need to be done for uh for those property owners. So,
we're in the process of doing that. Um, along the same lines with with sidewalks, uh, road road construction. So, um, the winter was busy with water, sewer, and road reconstruction. Illinois
Avenue, Ohio Avenue, Idaho, Stockton, um and Washington and Sydney um are areas that that come to mind. Um the spring cycle for doing the utility work u that that was done in some of those areas as well as the road work has essentially
been completed. Um the base paving um has been done in I think just about all of those those areas. I know obviously I'm familiar with Village Green areas. Some of these areas are literally around the corner from me. Previously had my own street done um and this several
years ago, but the base paving has been completed. Um there's some areas that um and you know with the base paving there's obviously still some uh you know utility connections and such that are above ground. Um that's going to be taken care of as far as with the final
uh the final paving sometime um well before the the end of the month. and then other projects regarding water, sewer, and road con road reconstruction. Um the city will pick up with those projects after the summer season
beginning in September again. Okay. Um so I a shout out to our public works department. Um you know, one one of the items that's super popular in Kate May is is the beach mats. Um
walking on the beach mats. Um we did city did suffer a little bit of damage with some of the beach mats over the course of the winter. Um the city manager reported at the believe the last city council meeting that all the beach mats are are now out again. So again, thanks to DPW. I know that they worked
hard uh working to uh to get them fit again. So I think they're out to uh Madison Avenue. Um, so they're, you know, they're ready to be, uh, the complete walkway as we're, as we have come to be, uh, used to being able to
walk, um, is now in place. Um, Harborview Park, for folks that have gone down to the Harborview Park area, it's, um, that area has been under construction over the course of of the springtime. Um the foundation I believe
has been laid for the pavilion. Um and concrete has also been laid for the seating that's going to take place there. And the boardwalk construction is is ongoing. Um there was a brief pause because some additional work not
uncommon uh to discover once you start working on a project that there's some additional items that need to be taken care of. But um there was an issue regarding the um uh regarding the the railing area I believe for the you know for the for the boardwalk area and the
bulkhead. Um so the uh there was uh some work that needed to be done that is being addressed right now and believe Harborview project uh still on target to be completed sometime in mid June. Um, and if anything is not completed,
there's just going to be maybe some um cosmetic uh features that that aren't going to be finished, but um the the park itself should be done and completed for for use at that time. >> Good. >> Um the reconstruction of the prominade,
that's another project that was taking place over the course of the winter. Um as you drive down Beach Avenue, you've seen a lot of um contractors working on the working on the prominade uh the facing of the of the wall as well as the
paving itself. Um they are kind of that that work is coming to um a stage where that the prominade is is open. It's been repaved um and again ready to be u ready to be utilized and walked on all the way
through. Um the city is replacing the benches um on the prominade. So I'll address first the surfacing. Um we've all I think people are fond of that gray surface that goes over the top. So, there's an asphalt surface and then
there's a top coat um surface that goes over over that which is it's not as hot. It's a lot uh more user friendly to be able to walk on. Um so, there's a curing period that uh needs to
be gone through. Um you can't put that coating on until a certain period of time has has elapsed. Um so the hope is that um well some of that area will be have that top coating on prior to the
beginning of the season but that top coating may not be on throughout the entire uh that entire area and it's going to be somewhat weather dependent because you can only put it on I think I think it's also temperature- wise it becomes an issue um as well as far as
applying that. So, um it'll be done as as quickly as possibly can be done, but um it'll depend on the amount of time that has passed as well as uh temperatures as far as whether whether that um entire area can have that that
top coating on there. So, we're we're probably looking at we're more like a July 1st other than Memorial Day opening of of the the full prominade. >> Yeah, I don't know. I don't have an
exact date um for that. Jim, in part because yeah, the um the opening of it for instance, benches are going that are being replaced right now. I had mentioned that if you take a ride down Lafayette Street, you see a whole lot of benches um back in the in the park and
some of those are the the older benches that have been removed that are being moved to their owners. Um and other benches are the benches that are being placed on the prominade. So um again, they're we're in the process of having
those benches placed up on the prominade. They're um essentially the same bench, but they have a they're they're black where the others were blue. The slats are, I believe, a slightly different color. Um the benches will be in place. The um some people
will notice, I'm sure everyone will notice that the brass plaques that go on the benches will not immediately be in place. They they have been ordered. they they will be put up as um and um as
we're able to get the get those plaques in and install them on the benches, but that will you know that'll be part of that process as well. But um I think from a from a a user standpoint, look, we're going to be up and going with the with the prominade. Um essentially, it's up and going right now. Anybody you can
go you can go the the full length of it. the workers that are still working on it are off to the side doing maintenance on the actually on the the facing of the wall um from what I had seen last week. Um and as they move move down and put the benches in, but that's not affecting traffic in any way. Joe,
>> uh you mentioned the plaques on the benches on older benches. >> Mhm. >> Um are the plaques going to be replaced on the newer benches or that I got the impression that's a new subscription if you will. that you would have to buy a
plaque. The old plaque was only a 10year lease. >> So the Yes, the old the old benches were removed. They uh the city um reached out to everybody that they had information for regarding the the old
benches and arranged wherever possible to actually um arranged for those folks to get the benches or if they were not interested in getting the benches to receive the the plaque itself. Um I don't know the
breakdown as far as who accepted what. Um, I can tell you as I go around town, I see plenty of people with the the old benches like in their in their yards, which is really neat to uh neat to see. I've also seen our public works driving around and dropping them off at at folks
houses in town. So, that's also um neat from that standpoint. So, the yeah, these are new new plaques that are going up. So there was a program there. Folks that had um existing that had benches that were interested in uh called
subscribing to a new bench um were had the ability to do that and have essentially a a plaque that had the exact same information on the old plaque um put on in its place. Um so that and many people avail themselves
of of that option. So the plaques are the plaques are going up. New plaques are being produced to go up um on on those benches and the benches are being put in the same location where they were or as close as they possibly
could from uh from before >> and there is a cost right obviously to the >> Yes. Yes, there was a there was a cost. Um the uh those that had an old bench and purchased a new bench were uh given
a significant discount um for the purchase of that bench. Um the the program as it as it will exists going forward. U if you didn't have an old bench and if there's an opportunity to purchase one, there's a uh pay the the
full price of that bench. And uh the way the bench program works is I mean it's it's now um some of the vagaries that were in the as far as the the program itself have been addressed. So it's clear that um I mean the benches
essentially are designed to last 10 years. Um some they may last a little bit longer, others it's wear it's a wear and tear type of issue. So, um, anybody who purchases a a a bench, um, now under whether they had the existing before or
they're they're new, there's a, um, it's made abundantly clear that it's a essentially it's a it's a 10-year 10-year program. Um, so the last item that I have to mention is the lifeguard headquarters uh, was just recently opened. The ribbon
cutting took place on May 1st. Um if you have an opportunity to see the lifeguard headquarters, it looks fantastic. Um the contractor did a fant did a just a um an an excellent job in a very short period of time. Uh the contract wasn't
wasn't awarded until um I guess some I want to say late last year. All the work was done over the winter and the building itself is complete. Um, one of the one of the primary goals of of working
on lifeguard headquarters in addition to simply updating the building, but when um is the fact that our our lifeguard staff is 50/50 essentially as far as men and women and the uh the locker room facilities for the women was completely
inadequate. Um, now that has been it addressed. So, it's a um they the men's and the locker men's and women's facilities are are both u both suitable for um for the number of of guards that
that we have. I think it's going to um the work that was done, it's going to take us well into the into the future as well. Um the I think there's uh other than some lockers which are on order and anticipated to be received by the end of
the month that project is essentially completed. So if you do have a chance to get out though um to that end of town, get by lifeguard headquarters, suggest walk in and take a look around. U if you've seen how it was before um you're going to you're going to notice that it's dramatically different now. So, uh,
but really, um, really nice project that was completed. So, I does, um, does anybody have any questions about any of the capital projects? That's what I had to report on that, >> Steve. >> Yes, Bob. >> I brought up a few months ago, a place
where the sidewalks on Park Boulevard and uh, between Congress and Perry Street and uh, has been done on that? >> I brought that to the city manager's attention. Um, I mean, if something can be done, this is regarding the utility.
>> The utility and also it's raised, it's it's a it's a hazard and it's also where the uh the painted crosswalk on Perry Street coming from West Cape May goes. So, that's where we're funneling traffic and it's it's it's not a >> Yeah, I I as I said, I brought it to the
city manager's attention, so I know he's aware of it. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Sure. Um, okay. So, Jim, um, I guess you had mentioned, you know, the open
house. I know that's a focus of of today. Um, we also have Lieutenant Christinger here as well. And Lieutenant, I don't know what your schedule is like today. Very appreciative of the fact that you came today. Um what I was and I had asked um
the lieutenant to to come today um in particular because there were some questions that had been uh posed regarding the um the ebike legislation and ordinances that are um
that are out there. And as um and Jim, I think that part of that when we had that there was an email. So there was an email chain going around where different members were talking about different questions that um that we as members had
as well as that we could anticipate from the public having um some of them pretty pretty common sense questions I would I would think. Um and we have the open house coming up. um anticipate that those questions are going to be be asked
and um want to make sure that we give you know accurate responses to those questions. So, I thought who better to have be able to respond to some of our questions other than, you know, you Lieutenant Christinger um knowing that
our police department is going to be um really front and center with educating our visitors and residents and and the public at large um on a really on a on many different levels. um but
particularly on a one-on-one basis when you're out on the street and making observations over the course of this of the of the season. So um I wrote down a couple of questions that had been posed with us um internally that um and I
brought to already to the lieutenant's attention so he can address those. Um but also it's an opportunity for us if there's any other questions that we want to um talk about or issues that well along those lines, you know, uh the
lieutenants here to be able to talk about this. >> Yeah. Uh Steve, before we get into that, >> just to bring everybody up to speed, we talked about this before the last meeting. Um, but let me just go over what this open house again is all about
and and and what the sequence of events are as as far as this goes. Um, the time frame is from 4:00 in the afternoon to 6 o'clock at convention hall on next next Wednesday.
And there's I don't know the exact number but there's about eight um committees I'll call them for right now but uh parts of the city which is staffed by volunteers
uh and BPAC the bicycle and pedestrian committee is is one of those let's say eight that are on the agenda. So at 4:00 the plan is that the the mayor will kick
things off u and just to say welcome. This is um in convention hall. It's open to anybody in this city or surrounding area. They come in from West Cape May, lower township, Atlantic City, who
knows? But it's primarily for the um the residents and citizens of of Cape May. And so these I'll call it right now eight different committees all the way from uh zoning
um safety beach safety and BPAC is is one of one of these what's the number Steve is it a eight eight eight committees >> yeah there thereabouts right as you
everyone the ones that you identified uh Jim did you mention beach safety I'm not sure if I um but beach safety, zoning and planning, >> tree commission, >> shade tree commission, correct >> and so forth. >> After after the um the mayor gives a
five or 10 minute little talk, uh the city manager is going to be next on the agenda uh to give a little talk of his own for for a couple of couple of minutes. And then each one of these committees
um has a a slideshow that we put together. And each committee has put together a couple of slides um that Casey, the um the woman who kind of runs Convention
Hall, um has has organized. So each committee has a twominut here's what we're all about and and so I'm the head of each committee
gives gives that two-minute talk. Um, and I'm going to to leave with you each. This this is a copy of um the slide
that I'll be talking to. >> How many pages? Hold on. Pardon? >> How many pages is that? Is that one page or two? >> Two. Two. Okay. So, >> do you have any more sets? >> I'm sorry. Pardon? >> Do you have any more?
>> Yeah, they're coming. Okay, that that's basic basically it. Um so there's just each each committee has two minutes to present their slides. So that's going to last about
uh 30 30 minutes or so. Um and then after each committee does the presentation um disperse to separate tables. So each um
committee will have a table and that me members of the committee uh and I'd like to see if you all are interested in being part part of that. We have basically an hour left because it should be around 5:00 by the time
each committee gives their little slide presentation. >> Jim, if I could just interrupt for a second, it starts at 5, not 4. It's 5 to five. The open house is from 5:00. Five to seven. >> To seven. >> I'm sorry. Okay. Thanks for telling me because I thought I really did think it was four to six. Five to seven.
>> You would have been opening the place for everybody. >> I get there a real early. Um but then the last hour is each committee will have a table uh that's staffed by members of the committee and the public
can come up to sit at any ask questions and make the rounds. go to one table, go to four tables, whatever they want to do, and ask questions that they they might have. So, I'd be looking to ask my
committee members if um they would like to join me and maybe if it's if it lasts an hour, maybe spend 15 minutes um with me there at at the table and uh just to
be able to answer questions. So, uh, let's say at the end of the meeting today, I'll just go around and ask each one of you as well as, uh, George Dick and Jerry Hathaway if they're interested in, uh, in participating. Okay.
So, that's that's that's what next Wednesday's all about. >> So, thanks, Jim. >> Information sharing with the public. What does BPAC do? What is what does the uh, planning board do? what does the trade ship commission do etc.
>> And as Jim touched on, he's the slides are already prepared. Jim is going to be the spokesperson for uh for BayAC um during that intro session. So really the the easier role for the members of the
the committee are being present um and uh interacting with folks from the public who come up and look it could be anything from so look I'm here I'm interested in what goes on in in Kate May but I don't really know what goes on
Kate May can you tell me a little more about bike and pedestrian safety or where can I go for a bike map or things of that nature it's could um you know, we've never had an open house like this um that I can that I can recall. So, it's going to be kind of a
novel experience for all of us, but again, it's an opportunity for folks to come in and um and um perhaps ask questions, but it's also a great opportunity for us as a committee to provide information and
inform folks um about issues involved with um you know, in involving Kate May. Um, and I think that, you know, I can't predict, but I I could see that u this table being one that people are
going to be interested in stopping by um and talking with folks because everybody's trying to move around Kate May um any time of year by bike or or you know, walking. So, I suspect there's going to be a lot of a lot of questions. Um >> yeah, I I I would suspect that ebikes
will probably be uh a hot topic. Uh but there may be some other things too. For instance, the prominade because that's uh and sidewalks um are also with within our u
span span of uh of work. So people may be wondering, well, how how do I get my sidewalk fixed or uh you know, is is the prominade going to be extended and so on and so forth.
>> And Jim, it's a really good point. This is it's a great opportunity not just to um you know provide information, but it's a great opportunity for the city to gather information as well. Um, you know, we people do come obviously to city council
meetings and address city council. They send in they send in emails. They reach out to the police department. They reach out to the different city city offices. Um, and and we have gotten people who come to these meetings as well to ask questions, but it's another opportunity
for people to to come and and um have that that opportunity to say something or give feedback. So, um I know I'm going to be, you know, listening as well. You know, if people have questions, concerns, things of that nature, and there's something that, um,
you know, we're able to to address, it's a great opportunity for us to get some feedback from folks, too. So, I would ask everybody to to do that and, you know, take note of it. It's something for us to um, you know, to to take in and um, you know, that may merit further
discussion down the line. Um, but you did touch on on ebikes. So, I'm sure, look, it's been our hot topic of conversation, right, at um at every meeting um that we've had this year. Um, we can fully expect that um that people
will be asking those questions. And since it is new legislation and we don't have a real track record with working with this um we're we've been educating ourselves as well. So Jim, I I wrote
down u the questions that had been been u that we had discussed and what I thought is you know we could uh because there there's there's there are really fundamental questions maybe we could go through some of those to kind of like kick off our discussion with the
lieutenant and then if it's um take it from there see if it spurs any other any other questions. So if it's okay with um Jim >> just ask one question about the open house. Sure. Are we going to have information at the table, handouts like
bike maps of the city, um things like that? You know, that if you're anticipating those kinds of questions, I'm assuming we're going to have >> So, we stand out. >> Yeah. Um I think that
um that's part of what we've been trying to to drill down on as far as bike maps themselves. I need to see what we what we have um on hand. I don't know. I don't really don't know um what we have at this point.
>> But I think these would suffice. These are great. >> Yeah, they they >> it's a version of the bike map. >> So, I think that I agree with you, Tom. I think that this may be the may be the way to go. Um but yeah, we have another we have another week to kind of drill down on this. We've we've talked about
it, you know, a few different times as far as what we need. I mean, it's crunch time now um to to come up with exactly what the materials um would be. Um so, yeah, this may be our ticket right here as far as as far as what we ultimately
are working with. Um I I think we should have a standard answer. People are going to come up, where do I register my ebike? It says I have to have this done by July 15th. And we we should have an answer so they don't come up and we go a hon, you know.
>> Yes. So Scott, not to put you on the spot, but So what's our answer to that question? >> I I think just like like you would a vehicle. I guess we're going to the NVC and and >> speak up a little bit. >> Oh, I I believe we're going to the M
motor vehicle commission and registering it just like you would. Uh vehicle is >> motor vehicles has stated they'll be prepared on July 1st. They're not committing to anything before that. Uh but they've said they will be prepared. >> Pretty much closer to you. >> Yeah.
>> Should I repeat it? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Motor vehicles has stated that they will be prepared on July 1st. Um I think they're covering their bases a little bit, but uh since there's nothing in place as it stands now, July 1st is tight for the July 19th implementation.
Um but at least it's something. So motor vehicles after July 1st. So, so and I see you have some paperwork in front of you. If there's information that we can even just put on the table, even if we just have something we like tape to the
table that would have um a website um instructions that have been published by the agency, that would be a real good start because people can come up even if they don't walk around walk away with something. Look, everybody has their phone anymore and takes pictures. It's
in in some ways it's easier just to take a photo of it and guess what they have that with them as opposed to they end up leaving in their car or in the back pocket or it gets you know something along those lines. So, um, what I would ask is if you Scott, not, um, could I
ask that if if you think that that what you have right there would be helpful for us to have her information, if you could provide that to, um, to our chairman, we can talk about that and then arrange to get a copy of that made
and taped to our taped to the table. What do you think, Jim? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Uh one one thought I had was well it's it's two thoughts there. Um
I I I believe as a uh as an advisory committee and with having education as one of our primary jobs if you want to call it that
letting people understand what is going on at the state level, what is going on at the local level and Not coincidentally, but in this week's Exit Zero,
there is a two-page spread right in the middle, kind of like the the Playboy uh spread. Not quite like that, but uh >> you are a man of words, Jim. You are a man of words. But it's in in our in our
own terms. What what what are the regulations going back to the ordinance that city council passed in u in in December of last year and what the si
what what the state uh governor has laid out for for legislation on the u uh uh bike issue. And so one one thought I had is to have
copies of that ad available to give to people and say this is this is the legislation right now. It may may change between now and June. It may change between now and
December. Uh but I I I I don't think we should necessarily be an advocate of of the change and that you know this is terrible. Um our job is to educate. This is this is what's on the books now. >> Yes.
>> And you need to understand that and you got to abide by these rules. Now, I haven't been able to find, and Tom, you may know, or Steve, you may know, what about the out the outofstate bikers coming into town? Do they have to get
insurance? Do they have to have registered with DMV? I don't think I don't think that's been addressed anywhere I can see in the state legislation or in the city legislation at all. So that you know
there there are unanswered questions that we don't have an answer for. Uh is that correct Tom? >> Correct. There there's nothing that's been firmed. >> Correct. There's nothing that's been firmed up but um I sent uh I believe you were copies.
>> I read it as well. Yes, >> Lieutenant. We go back when he was 15 years old. >> Yeah. Um indications are again the law is the law which but indications are that um guests
coming into town are not going to be um need they're not going to need that same requirement. >> They're going to have to follow the their state law. So if their state has a law in effect, correct me if I'm wrong. >> Um if their state doesn't have that you have to be licensed to operate an ebike
if you don't have to have registration. That's my understanding at this point as of today is that they won't have to produce >> which no other ones do. So, >> but but how about if you're a resident? >> If you're a resident, you will. >> You do have to have it. Yes. But if you're out of state, you do not have to have it.
>> That's correct. >> You have to follow the laws of your state. But like Yeah. Tom just said >> and that supersedes any local laws. >> What What do you mean? >> Well, a local Kate May can't
>> correct. Yes. Go go go against the state if they're putting an ordinance out or or something something like that. >> That's correct. The state law, >> but say a person from Pennsylvania is 14 years old and they have an ebike and they come over here. Does 14 trump our
>> That's a great question and I'm I'm assuming that what's your take? I I don't know that there's >> just my personal take. 16 is the adopted age pretty much nationwide. So, uh, the if they're riding at 14 in Pennsylvania,
they're riding illegal. That's my opinion. That's not I don't know that that's fact. So, >> yeah. So, I would say this first off, I think, do we do have a local ordinance that addresses some issues regarding operability, but we absolutely have to know the answer to that. >> Yes. >> I mean, I
um the legislation addresses a lot of different areas. Um, my take on it is while the focus seems to be on registration, licensing, and insurance, they
they kind of like put a little bit of operation in there to a to a certain extent, but um it's not real clean in the sense that it does doesn't simply deal with operation and you know those those other issues. But I look, first
and foremost, you the city, you certainly need to know because you're um going to be out on the street and you need to be sending a consistent message to everybody in town. Um what I am also saying as a member of this committee,
but also as a council member, is we need to know this because people are going to be asking these these questions. We're going to have hundreds of ebikes in town, people operating, and we have we have to be able to give them answers
that are um that are correct and um that give them some real real guidance. So um so we need to have those those answers. So that really does concern me as far as you know because it opens up a whole at
least raises a number of different questions for me if they only have if they have to abide by you know the rules from their own state. Well, okay, we're talking about a licensing provision right now. You see an ebike that goes down the street, one has a plate, one doesn't have a plate. Are you stopping
the, you know, are you stopping the vehicle or the ebike that doesn't have the plate? I mean, how's that conversation going? what are what are is our police department um and other it's and it's not this is not just a Kate May issue obviously this is this is this is
it goes to um all of the different different communities but um what is law enforcement doing um faced with those situations and you know obviously we need to we need to know the answers like now because this legislation is going to
be um it's going to be enforceable in literally a matter of weeks. >> Yeah. Um >> there's a lot of questions out there. Um we do have one squad that's specifically directed patrol for bic bicycle safety at this point. So, you know, if we do
see a violation, the the bicycle offender can be stopped. Um and so that's what we're working on right now. But no, I don't certainly have the I have the answers for New Jersey, but outside of the state, I don't know. >> Okay. So, we're going to we're going to need to know them. Uh and you're going
to because you're going to need to know them. So, I I start with this and I'm coming back to the question. I'm literally reading it from our our email chain. Um, you know, the question being if a person from out of state wants to legally ride their ebike in New Jersey, does he or she have to abide by the New
Jersey ebike registration and insurance rules? We have to know the answer to that question. Yeah. >> So, um, and and I think we need we need to we need to have the answer to that question by >> I think we did answer that they have to follow their state guidelines. So >> their state guidelines >> for the registration and insurance.
>> Okay. So this is the question Jim that was from the that was from the email. If a person from out of state wants to legally ride their ebike in New Jersey, does he or she have to abide by the ebike registration and insurance rules? Another question, how about all other
New Jersey ebike rules such as wearing helmets and having lights on their on their ebikes? I would say that's we can still enforce that how how bicycle operators operate the vehicle or their their bicycle. Um I would say they still have to operate with with a helmet if
that >> is requirement. >> And we do we do have we do have an operation ordinance in Kate May as well. I wouldn't know. But >> but what I what I think I heard before is there is nothing in the written
legislation of New Jersey that's that's in in effect now. We're just not enforcing it right now. But when it gets enforced in June, mid mid June or something, there is nothing in writing that says an out ofstate person
has to have insurance. On the other hand, there's nothing in writing that says they don't have to have insurance. Okay. So you know I I think
my answer would be that is an undetermined regulation right now. It you know there's nothing there that says you know if you come from out of state you have to have New Jersey liability insurance
and registration. Um, it just says, you know, new New Jersey writers do. >> Would you agree with that, Tom? >> Recap that briefly. >> Re recap that briefly. What we
>> I was just looking up what Okay. This these amendments or these updates say. >> Okay. I mean, I think I propose our our position being we don't have the answer >> at this point >> to
an out ofstate person bringing their bicycle into in into um New Jersey whether they need liability insurance and registration or not.
>> I think it's a good stance to take that until we know >> more clearly >> that that may be forthcoming. Uh, but >> I do want to >> otherwise we're just we're taking a wild ass guess. >> I do want to bring up an example that
you and I discussed month ago, six weeks ago. >> Yes. >> Um, a guest coming into town is questioning the police department if they're I'm only going to say this is an emoto because there were no pedals involved.
will they need to be um license registered or can they ride their bikes in KMA um over and above the license registration and um insurance it's technically an it's not an ebike. I mean it goes back to the it's an emoto
and shouldn't I mean for my again my opinion is this shouldn't be allowed on the road at all. >> Is that what's classified as like a motorcycle? >> That's an emoto. Yeah, that's a um top level beyond speed. It's not a bicycle. So, >> can I go back a couple questions though?
>> Uh, on the squad, uh, how many are they? One squad at one shift. How how are they dispersed throughout? >> So, every month we have new new director patrol. Typically, it's different locations in town. If we have complaints, we'll uh, you know,
typically it's speeding from residents. We'll assign a squad to make more effort on that at that location. So typically four different locations throughout Kate May, Westgate May, Kate May Point. Um,
now we also include one squad to >> really focus on bicycle safety. So they're going to be out >> looking every officer in the department's going to be looking, but one squad that's going to be their main focus for the month this month.
>> All right. And so are they doing eight hour shifts? I don't I don't know how that >> we work 12 hour shifts. >> 12 hour shifts. Okay. And how many officers are on that specific squad? >> I believe five. >> Nice.
And is it bicycles and ebikes or just we focusing on ebikes? >> Uh strictly bicycle safety. That could be ebikes, that could be bicycles that anything. Yeah. >> Because it desperately needed to. >> I remember you saying that. Well, Tom,
as it stands right now, if July 4th, somebody from Delaware comes in and wants to rent an ebike, uh, and they're, you know, they're 30 years old, so they pass the age tests, but are you going to, what are you going
to do about registration and insurance? I already have I already have liability insurance that will cover has always covered my renter rentes I guess or renters. Um so I have liability covered. I'm actually going to this is for Cape
Island bikes just so for everybody's clear I don't want to be overly biased towards me. Um >> you can generalize how you're going to conduct your business. I'm perfectly fine with that. And I'm going to provide them with an insurance uh cover sheet of
what my liability insurance does cover. And it's extensive. I pay a lot for it because I've been renting ebikes. I've been renting ebikes since 1999. >> Um and all my bikes will be u registered as a group. U I'm just I I have to figure
out how motor vehicles is going to do it. But I picture going over with a group of 10 with serial numbers, proof of purchase, groups of 10. I mean, I I have a lot more than 10. Uh so, not to overburden them or overburden us, it'll be groups of 10. And um I think I've
mentioned this before. Um they need to have a driver's license, which that's always been the case. And in our case, it's beyond what the state or city requires. I don't think the city has a requirement on it, but we require 21 years of of age or older. So the
17-year-old thing with a driver's license or the 15 and 16 with a mo moped license does not apply to me. So it's just we're we're safety conscious and don't want to >> you're still sticking to 21. >> Oh yeah, that's a me rule. That's not a
that's not a state rule. >> So >> I don't like being sued. >> So um just a a a couple thoughts. One is that, as I said, we're going to be up and running in a in several weeks with
this um with the legislation and needing to enforce it. It it's concerning to me that um there isn't an an apparent on a on a
large scale of the messaging of how to inform folks uh regarding what they they need to do. Um, I think we as as a city and we as a as a police department have
an obligation to be to know exactly uh what needs to be what people need to to do, what they need to do to be able to comply and to be able to inform those folks. I think between now and I would
say um I'm already going to invite you back to our our next meeting in June that we're we work on that particular issue so we can have a conversation and
we know as a as a as a committee but also the public who are listening to this conversation and candidly if I'm one of them I'm a little bit concerned about what I'm hearing because I'm tuning in for answers and I'm not getting I'm not getting answers. It's
not a criticism because I know we're all working with it, but we need we need to have those answers as far as um um what do what do residents need to do? What do our our folks who come and have
uh second homes here that come from Pennsylvania um what do they need to do to comply with the law? What do visitors need to do so we can be consistent? Um one provide information in a in an easy
manner for people to be able to receive it and know what they need to do and as well as even the officers on your shift. So they're giving um consistent information to everybody as well as when they go from one community to another
community and they're hearing the same answers from from local police departments as well. Another aspect I would talk about is from an operability standpoint. I know that, you know, there to me um there may be certain if and if the answer is that there's you abide by
rules within your state. Um some of it I'm really trying to wrap my head around how somebody can come in and operate a one of these in um these ebikes in New Jersey and not have to abide by our
rules here when some of them are developed from a safety standpoint. One thing that jumps out at me is, you know, to begin with is helmets. I expect everybody who's on an ebike to be wearing a helmet. To me, that's not that's not a um a judgment call to say,
well, in my state, they don't require a helmet. We require a helmet in in Kate May. my um until somebody directs me um somewhere else in this legislation, I believe it provides the authority that
all ebike riders must wear a helmet. So, safety is first and foremost. Um >> that's what it says right on the NG MVC website. It does say a helmet is mandatory for all ebike riders regardless of age. So, and that that's
that's where I want to make sure that we're consistent with that. And, you know, this is the, you know, my my back training comes back to me to say, well, how do you pick and choose what's applicable when you're in New Jersey and when you're and when you're not? You know, they people are operating their
ebikes in the state of New Jersey. They're subject to New Jersey laws and regulations. You know, my speed limit in my state is 75 miles an hour. Guess what? It's not that way in Kate May. So you can't say I'm going to at home I could drive this fast. No, you drive 20 miles an hour in Kate May. That's a
that's it. You don't get to pick and choose. You don't get to apply the laws of, you know, of of some other jurisdiction. So I know I'm perhaps over well simplifying that or or taking it in a different direction. But I um we we definitely need to drill down on the on,
you know, on these requirements. Um, and candidly, I would think that from a a business standpoint, people need to know. Um, I can say this much. If I were, you know, if I were a hotel operator, um, and I had guests coming to me, I I'm
sure that they're going to be asking me these questions as well. And, you know, what do what do our, you know, business owners want to do? they want to they want to work with they want to they want to um provide the best experience that they possibly can can for their guests and that's providing them with good
information right so um unless you know unless we're going to be saying you know contact the police department for answers we which we don't want to do um we want to be able to provide that information to them as well which ties in with the whole point of what are we looking to do you know from our standpoint we we we've talked about
trying to educate folks as much as possible we're not going to be able to reach everybody body, but if we can get that information to businesses so they can get it to their guests, you know, then we're we're ahead of the game. So, next meeting if we can really get um
some some answers to this and you and I we'll have an opportunity to talk about this offline um in the meantime, but I think that that would be our goal for u for our next meeting to be able to have that. So the messaging for Kate May is going to be abundantly clear once we hit the the heart of the season.
>> Yes, >> Tom. >> Go ahead. >> Okay. I want to uh point out a couple things and this goes back to our previous meeting. Um even though >> Speak up just a little bit, Tom. I'm an old man here. >> I'm with you. Um what though? Uh going
back to our previous meeting, Steve mentioned and it's fact. The laws are the laws. We don't. We're sitting here interpreting what we think. Um, and the things I sent out to a handful of us, they're in effect their opinions. You know, it's not nothing's changed.
That the law is the law. So, we have to abide by that. By the law, they have to come in into New Jersey and if they want to ride, they have to be licensed, insured, and registered. That's the law. Whether nobody likes it, but that is what the law is. Um, and
I am going to put >> and that's what that was my understanding as well. Not to interrupt, but that was exactly what my understanding was. So, so part of our discussion here today is >> it's um this is something that I wasn't anticipating hearing. Let's put it that way. >> Um, I mean, it sunk in when you said it.
It's they already wrote the law. The law's fact. It's going to Is it going to get amended? Yeah, I'm sure it is. And this is pro what I sent out those those messages are probable. Yeah. >> Um but if anybody asks you got we have to say >> this nothing's in effect until July
20th. >> Actually it's in effect. It's just not being enforced. Um >> I mean the law passed in January. So it's July 19th is when enforcement is expected to start. Um then the other thing is just for a
discussion point. We're in the bicycle business. We're all trying to figure out and ebike business. We're all trig trying to figure out how do we get this changed, amended to get our voices heard. Um there's a hundred bike shops in this state that are going to be in jeopardy of going out of business. Being
very vocal um with senators and assemblymen um and we've heard it I've heard it numbers of times is right now they're preoccupied with the budget. Once the budget passes and then all these in the grand scheme of things, this is a little deal that the these little deals will start getting changed
and fixed and amended, but it's pending. You know, it's going to be to the budget once that's done. So, >> uh, a a question for the police department here. Uh the Kate May ordinance says that there's a $100 fine
for the first offense, $200 fine for the second and subsequent offenses. What's how do you decide whether to stop somebody or arrest somebody
um and enforce the $100 fine or just say I'm giving you a warning or don't do this again and go go on your way. >> It's going to be discretionary for each officer. It's going to be totally discretionary. They we have a system that you could look up if they've been
stopped and warned before. We could certainly go by that. You know, if their name's in the system for, you know, a violation multiple times, we could start issuing. We could issue one the first time as well, but there is a system in place that we could research their name. And
>> how are you going to know? Geez, this is the third time I stopped Mary Jane >> uh from going down the oneway street the wrong way. >> We type Mary Jane's name into the computer and it comes up that she's been stopped two other times. And >> well, but a lot of times
Mary Jane doesn't have her purse with her >> and so she she has no identification. >> She could tell she could tell >> the bicycle. >> Yeah, we could we could enter her name if she's in our system before. Hey, what's your name? >> Can you take a picture? >> Everything's on body cam now. >> Oh,
>> there you go. So every interaction that we have if we're stopping someone's going to be on body cam but I believe that that rule is different than a normal bicycle
for you know a pedal bicycle. They are not subject to fines. Is that correct? >> I have a the title 39 for bicycles here um which is like our traffic safety if you'd like to look at this. Well, no. Just not I don't need to look at it. I
can't read. I can't hear or read. But anyway, um well, if if you do, let's just say on the pedal bicycle, you have a u uh
somebody who consistently rides down the uh carpenter lane the wrong way and doesn't stop for red lights and things like that, do you in fact arrest them and find them $100 or >> We would not arrest them. No. No, we wouldn't arrest them. But um yeah, there
we could certainly find them, you know, cite them. >> Would it be correct that you probably look, you employ discretion all the time on a daily basis, right? Motor vehicle stops, interactions with the with the public. I mean, my experience is you're
not writing up every violation that you see of any any um city ordinance or even motor. Well, you you use your discretion as far as when it's appropriate to educate. Absolutely.
>> As opposed to um write a ticket. I suspect that writing a ticket is probably your last resort. >> Yes. Yes. >> Okay. So, and I think that I know that the chief has come to city council meetings and I think you've had come to city council meeting as well um and were asked about this and my recollection is
the um the emphasis was on educating folks and working on behavior modification just abiding by the by the rules of of of operation right so >> um but there's always a time and a place
I guess right to issue to issue this so but you do have the discret questions as far as whether you're going to issue a ticket or not. Right. >> Yes. >> So, and also >> I know >> again this is just my background. People don't get arrested for for this. I mean at even under the worst case scenario
there's a brief stop on the street, someone would be issued a summon and you they go on their way. Correct. >> Yes, they do. >> Yeah. So, >> maybe not here yet, >> but I know I forward you an article and this is rampant in California right now. There's a a huge problem with emotives.
Not so much ebikes. They're not they're well they're getting getting grouped in two but Emotos in I'm going to say it was North County San Diego but a 13 I believe he's now 14y old kid has been warned several times. His parents have
been warned several times. Um he wound up against all those warnings going out riding his emoto at 50 miles an hour hit a pedestrian killed the guy. his mother is now going to is likely to be char Well, she's already charged, but she's likely to be sentenced to seven to 10
years of prison based off of them ignoring the laws. And it's not that's the one extreme case, but there's a dozen or more where emotos have been confiscated and parents have been charged. >> Yeah. So there's look there's always ex um and that's a horrible circumstance
you describe but but that that's something that's something that took it well beyond >> um riding your ebike on the sidewalk on the wrong way on a on a street. So um yeah I I think in other instances like the same rules that abide by a motor
vehicle violation would um or any other any other ordinance violation. I mean that's that's how the I would expect our police department to be interacting with folks. So which um yeah
so um coming back to the open house for a moment to Jim I think that um what I've identified just from and I'll throw this out regarding our our discussions are we know that we have the state legislation regarding licensing,
registration and insurance. we have the city local ordinance which touches more on operability. Um and third we have um there's information u that I believe has been put forth or
we're going to identify information from the motor vehicle commission as far as how to register ebikes. What I would suggest is, you know, when for the open house, um those are our three areas of
of focus as far as of message delivery to the public. If you'd mentioned about the exit zero um ad that's going to be coming out and I want to give a shout out to you for being the person to contact exit zero and work uh to work on that. So that is going to be published
in in exit zero exit zero. grateful for the work that you've done in getting that together. But my understanding is it's going to be a two-page spread. And that two-page spread, there should be information regarding the um the the legislation for the insurance um
licensing and registration as well as the other page regarding the operability issue. So that that if we have copies of that ad there for folks um we've addressed two out of those two out of
the three areas of of uh that we want to address. The third is I really think we need to drill down on the motor vehicle commission as far as just whatever information we have at this point. It may not be the the um complete
information um and give everybody an absolute roadmap as far as what they need to do because we're struggling with that as well. But at least if Motor Vehicle Commission is saying here's the date, here's who you need to contact, we can at least provide them here's the date, here's who you need to contact and
give them that information. Um, and I think that we need to have that available at the table to say this is the best that we can uh provide to you at that point in time. Look, we're not we're not providing legal guidance for people. We can't bear that responsibility if they don't follow it
correctly. But we can what we can do is say the Motor Vehicle Commission is overseeing the licensing, insurance, and registration aspects of it. You know, here's where you go for for further information. and they say that they're going to have it in place by a certain date. Um, that's I think that's what we
can provide. And if we focus on, you know, on that have uh have the motor vehicle commission information at the table, have the ad at the table that has the those two areas covered. I think I think from a resource standpoint at the table that satisfies what we need to do.
That's that's my take. >> Yeah. No, I I agree with you. If it's okay, I'll I'll get a a an ad that details out the proper uh rulings or legislation of what the ebikes are. Unfortunately, there's I bet you there's
60 or 70% of the ads that are being sent out by cities, counties, and police departments are wrong. >> So, >> it only adds to the confusion. So, that being said, before we put anything out, I want to make sure it's vetted by by the city and by the police department first just to make because if we are
providing that information, we need to be um it it needs to be um >> correct. And have it for you today. >> And lastly, uh Tom, great suggestion. I think that we'll have the the stickers at the table as well. people will be asking about the bike map and we can
educate them on the stickers as um as well and have some available for for people there. >> Does that sound like a plan? >> Okay. I one thing to to add to the ad. Um
this is being run by Jack Wright free of charge. Uh very generous of him uh to give >> Who are you looking for? Historical office. >> Historical office
>> that way. First one to the left. >> Yep. >> Anyway, so if any of you happen to see Jack or you know him, uh just don't thank you very much for kind of a public public service announcement. U
and I'm gonna I'm done this yet, but I'm going to ask him to see if he can run it again on Memorial Day weekend. uh when we really get a lot of even more more potential readers and >> uh because I think that's that's one of
the things that we part just part of our education process here coming from the uh BPAC committee is to let people know what's going on from a legislative standpoint about the u about ebikes.
Anything else, Steve? Uh, in regards to the open house? >> Um, no, nothing. Nothing for me. Um, I know that, you know, afterwards we'll talk about who's going to be there. Um, and I
look forward to it. I think it's going to be open house is going to be really good. Look forward to seeing everybody there. >> I will be there the whole time if you need that info. So, >> all right. Just keep keeping the uh meeting going here. Um, next item is new
business. Any committee members have uh anything they'd like to bring up as far as new business goes. Okay. I don't hear anything public comment. We're not going to get any public comment, I don't think. Uh
>> Jim, I I don't know what's allowed and what's not allowed, but we we did a quick quick reference of writers going the wrong direction on Carpenters Lane. Are we allowed to put a sign underneath a one, you know, just a small one that
underneath the oneway sign that says applies to bikes and ebikes, too? Are we can we do that? I'm sure there's a bunch of bike rentals in town that will help them pay for that. >> You know, I I don't know the answer to that. I I I I know we're not allowed to
put a no bicycles allowed >> u signs up on streets or or even sidewalks. >> Uh it would be a discussion with the city manager's office. I've actually seen those signs in other in other communities about,
>> you know, on the for if someone is riding on the wrong side of the road pretty much saying you're riding on the wrong side of the road, you know, it's right right in front of you on the on the back of a traffic uh sign from the other direction. >> So, it it could be something >> something on Broadway.
>> Yeah. So, I I would say this right now that the city is actually under undertaking review of signage in general throughout uh throughout town. So, um I could I could raise this topic with uh I'll bring this to Paul's attention.
Okay. As as far as >> a light calm, no finger pointing, no anger, just plastics, too. >> Carpenters Lane is dangerous. Um if for many reasons, it's just it's so highly
trafficked in the in in the summer. People are backing out. people are walking crossing in the middle of of the street. It's most you obviously most popular area in town and yeah then to add that you have um traffic going the wrong way. I've seen vehicular traffic going the wrong way as
well, you know, on on Carpenter. But um yeah, when you see bike traffic going going the wrong way, it's uh yeah, it's it's real a certain safety issue. I'm sure this is something you're you deal with all the time, Lieutenant, you know, as far as seeing the with with
carpenter, and you're just probably constantly just like trying to go this way. Uh just coming off of that, Steve, >> um the city's if the city's looking into I
guess a street signage or anything to do with streets, pedestrians, um bicyclists, etc. If we go back to the original resolution for establishing
BPAC, okay, the first words are the committee shall assist and advise the city manager and city council on such matters as and then it goes down to a whole list of things. So to me, the onus is really on the city
manager and council to say, "Hey, BPAC, what do you think of this?" Or, "Give me some ideas of what we might do." I know we're only advisory. We can't we can't tell them. But, you know, if the city is
doing things and we're not aware of it, if they're doing, you know, a huge overhaul of the speed limit or one way ch changing of the street to a oneway going east to west rather than west to
east, things like that. I I I think I I just think it would be helpful to the city if they came to BPAC and said, "What do you guys think?" Because that's our job here with us. And
we're not experts. We are we are not traffic engineers. Uh but neither is city council. So I just I just throw that out there. uh credit to you, Steve, as as far as
when council and the city manager and the police department um are looking at things as it relates to um bicycle and pedestrian stuff on the highways and walkways
that uh you know I I I can't walk into the city manager's office each week and say, "Okay, what are you doing this week or what are you doing that week? need a little bit of better communication. >> Okay. Well, um I mean I I bring issues
uh to to the committee all the time. Um so I'll continue to I'll continue to do that. Um you know the other I I think um the city manager has tried to give us updates as much as possible regarding these programs and I I appreciate where
you're coming from with that with that. Jim, I think it's also um incumbent upon us and I I don't think that if something gets missed, I I'm sure it's not purposeful, but you know um but it's incumbent upon all of us those you know
a lot of the projects in Kate May u whenever the construction projects are ongoing the plans are the plans are put online. So, um they're out there for all of us to take a look at and if we uh see something that that piqus our um our our
interest as a as a committee that we should be working on and somehow someway it kind of got filtered through and we missed it then u you know we're kind of the safety net out there as well. I certainly, you know, see myself that way to bring to bring issues to uh to the committee, but you know, I would welcome
everybody to um every this is this is an involved committee. Um people follow what's going on in Kate May and involved in the community. U those those construction plans that they have on this the city website are really comprehensive. A lot of information on there. I know for myself looking at them
even as a council member it's um I look at them and it you know I get briefed on matters and it's I still end up having questions that are posed from there but I appreciate where you're coming from Jim. >> Um anything else anybody on your minds
>> just from my st my standpoint Jim I just want to join you in thanking Jack um Jack Wright and Exitzero for running the ad. um you know really uh generous of of him to do and u putting out that
public service announcement benefits Kate May it also benefits um West Kate May Kate May point as well um you know and the and you know everybody so thank you Jack uh do I hear a motion to adjourn
>> second >> second meeting's adjourned uh next meeting will be in Uh June second Wednesday in June which is >> June 10th. >> June June June. Okay. So just mark your
calendars for June June 10th. >> The 10th. So, I know we adjourned, but do you think you could give us an update? Please plan on attending the meeting on the >> June 10th. >> On the 10th. >> Yeah. >> I'm sure we're going to be
>> Yeah. June June 5th. I'm I'm going to be sitting in on a Jersey Shore working group um at 9:00 am strictly for for ebikes. So, hopefully we'll be able to bring back a little bit more information. >> What is that one? >> Uh it's June 5th at 9:00 am and we'll I'll talk
to you a little bit more after. >> Tom, I saw a nod of the head. You're going to be at the uh open house. >> Yeah, the whole time. >> Okay. Would you take a little bit of time and join me on the uh uh at the ta at the table after? >> I think I'll be there the whole time.
Never been accused of being too quiet. >> Okay. Bob, how about you? >> I'm gonna be there. >> Okay.