Good afternoon. Uh this is a a special meeting of the city council of Kate May. We are in the Kate May auditorium. Uh it is Tuesday, December 16th at approximately 4:00. Please stand for the 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. >> So, just to let everyone know, uh, Mayor
Mullik is on the phone, uh, calling in for this meeting. Uh and council member Baldwin is on her way and will be joining us via phone during the closed session. Yes. Under the open public meetings law, notice that this meeting was sent to the K County Herald and the
Press of Atlantic City and a copy of the agenda was delivered to each member of city council, posted on the city website and city hall bulletin board. Notice is hereby provided that Kate May city council meetings are audio recorded and or video streamed live. Live video streams are posted to the Kate May city website. City of Kate May is not
responsible if audio recording or live video streaming of a meeting is unavailable. Roll call again. Council member Baldwin will be arriving shortly for close session. Council member Bodner >> here. >> Deputy Mayor McDade >> here. >> Council member Meyer is absent. Mayor
Mullik via telephone. >> City solicitor Gillan Schwarz >> here. >> City Manager Dietrich >> here. >> Deputy Manager Riggs >> here. >> Deputy Clerk Turner >> here. Council, we have resolution 349-125, a resolution providing for a meeting not
open to the public in accordance with the provisions of New Jersey Open Public Meetings Act, NJSA 10:4-12. This is for discussion on risk management consultant position, discussion on law enforcement and dispatching shared services agreements with the bureau of Kate May Point and the Burrow of West Kate May and
discussion on beach concession agreements. Do we have a motion to adopt 349? >> I'll make the motion. >> I'll second. Deputy Mayor McDade. >> Yes. >> Council member Bodner. >> Yes. >> Mayor Mullik. >> Yes.
>> Public portion. Is there anyone from the public wishing to speak on any of the items listed for the special meeting? Seeing no one, we will um adjourn adjourn into close session. Time is 4:03. Thank you.
Yeah. No, I Good evening. Um, we are just coming out of close session. Um, and we will have no action from the close session meeting. Uh, Mayor Mullik is joining us via phone. Okay. So, um, do we have a
motion to adjourn the special meeting? I'll make a motion. >> I'll second. >> Okay. Time is 5:46. If you'd like to open up the regular meeting, Deputy Mayor. >> Yes. Uh we'll be opening up the regular meeting of city council uh here in the Cape May auditorium. The time is now uh
45, sorry, 4:55. And please join me in for this p pledge of allegiance. >> Time is 5:46. All good. I pledge algiance 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. >> Under the open public meetings law, notice of this meeting was sent to the Kate May County Herald and the press of Atlantic City and a copy of the agenda was delivered to each member of city council posted on the city website and city hall bulletin board. Notice is
hereby provided that Kate May City Council meetings are audio recorded and or video streamed live. Live video streams are posted to the Kate May city website. City of Kate May is not responsible if audio recording or live video streaming of a meeting is unavailable. Roll call. Council member Baldwin
>> here. >> Council member Bodner >> here. >> Deputy Mayor McDade >> here. >> Council member Meyer >> here. >> Mayor Mullik >> here. >> Present via telephone. City solicitor Gillan Schwarz >> here. City Manager Dietrich >> here. >> Deputy Manager Riggs
>> here. >> Deputy Clerk Turner >> here. >> And council, any additions or deletions tonight? Any councils, any delutions? >> Okay. Okay. On to employee of the month. >> All right. Thank you. Uh love this
meeting of the month. So, I'm going to ask Britney to come on up. uh this year uh this month's uh employee of the month is Britney Roach. Um she's been working with the city since uh July of 2021 and and she's got her uh favorite daughter
Alana here with her. So um Britney is just a really great rock star behind the scenes. You know, you know, Casey's the the all the employees over at Civic Affairs and Recreation. you kind of always see them out at the events and there, but Britney is kind of
one of those people that she's behind the behind the scenes behind the scenes making sure that all of those other people get what they need and and get coordinated. and she had the the really large task over the last what 3 months,
four months of tackling a very sensitive, controversial and sentimental project. Um, it was her task to administer the memorial bench program replacement and and I can't tell you how
many emails and calls and voicemails I've gotten from from residents that, you know, through this sentimental and emotional time period that Britney really walked them through and and made it very easy for residents to go through
this hard process. and and you know, not only do I thank the residents, but I really thank Britney for, you know, really stepping up to the field and and taking what could have been a very difficult job and doing an awesome job with it. And um just uh all of her
fellow employees recognized the efforts that she did and you know that's I won't say that's the main reason why she got it, but that's a good reason why you know for this month uh we were recognizing Britney for as employee month for city of Kate May. Um, I would just like to add I started working with
Britney on and Casey on this project uh three years ago. Um and she did a meticulous job in documenting and um all of the the benches and the owners and it was quite challenging because what we had was paper that was found in the bottom of a filing cabinet drawer and
she had to undertake the task of identifying and organizing all 400 um plus some benches and who they owned uh who owned them and um I can't compliment her enough for the job that she did this year finally being able to execute on that program. Um, so I know Casey relied
on her and she really was at the forefront of this and represented the city very well. So personally like to thank you because I know how difficult a challenge that it can be interfacing with the public when they can be emotional. So thank you very much.
Yeah, she doesn't want to be in the picture with this outfit. >> Thank you too, Alana. >> Keep Okay. Um, on to updates and old business. Um, city manager, any, uh, old business?
>> Just had a couple updates that I wanted to, um, bring to council's attention. Um, looking over the, uh, parking revenue through the end of November, um, we're actually up 183,3682 from last year, uh, bringing our, uh,
total at the end of November at, uh, 2,4271.95. Um, and then I just wanted to give, you know, beach tag sales have only been on sale for just about two weeks now, and
we are have sold 2,427 tags, which is up 200 tags from last year. Um, and online, we've sold 700 tags, which is up 500 tags. So, we are
already showing strong sales for uh beach tags. Everybody's obviously looking to get those tags as stocking stuffers. So, there's going to be a lot of happy people around Cape May getting stocking stuffers for beach tags. So, if you're unsure what you're getting, you could be getting a beach tag.
>> And um we have sold 20 of our commemorative beach tags already. So, that's awesome. So, it's almost maybe one a day that we've sold. So, uh thank you for everybody helping uh the commemorative beach tag sale. Uh that's all I had for uh today. Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you. Uh city solicitor,
>> I I just wanted to note uh for the public that obviously the police services agreements were on for close session and council and the other towns are working diligently to hopefully resolve those. Uh we don't have anything to announce tonight, but we're continuing to work work on that. So I
just wanted to indicate that. >> Okay. Thank you very much. Okay. Ordinances for second reading. Um, ordinance 580 2025, an ordinance to uh update the uniform salary and classification plan for the department of personnel positions in the city of
Kate May. Uh, we have a public hearing on this. >> Correct. Yes. Anyone from the public wishing to speak on ordinance 580 2025. Um, not seeing anyone interested in speaking. So, we'll close public um, hearing.
>> Do we have a motion from councel? I'll make the motion. >> I'll second. >> Any discussion for council? Any discussion? >> No. Okay. All right. Council member Meyer? >> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor McDeade? >> Yes.
>> Council member Bodner? >> Yes. >> Council member Baldwin? >> Yes. >> Mayor Mullik? >> Yes. >> All right. And Okay. Next we have um ordinance 582 city of Kate May amending and supplementing chapter 7 vehicles and
traffic to regulate the operation of electric bicycles and scooters. We also have a public hearing. Anyone from the public wishing to speak on ordinance 582 2025? Mr. Moffett, if you'd like to come to the
podium. Yeah, Jim Moffett, 681 New England Road. Uh, thank you for the opportunity to have a few thoughts to share with you. Uh, I'm doing this both as a individual citizen and also as a representative of
the bicycle and pedestrian advisory committee. Um, and first off, uh, we're very much in support of the or ordinance and, uh, look forward to seeing it approved and and going forward. Um, we
see this I see this as a an initial first step addressing this very uh, timely issue of ebikes. they weren't even around 10 years ago and and here they are uh right up there as a number
one priority. uh for the past 3 months the um uh I'm going to call it BPAC the the pedestrian and excuse me bicycle and pedestrian committee we're looking at what what
should be what should be focusing on as far as advising city council and city management uh here and ebikes uh and the safety of ebikes and the regulation of ebikes rose to the top of
our agenda. So, it's um it's something we're going to be looking at very closely o over the next year. Uh we look forward to working in concert with city council and and city management. Uh we
know there's uh a lot of information out there both at the uh at the national at the state uh at the county level. Um and I I think with a a little bit of uh
learning on our part or adv more learning on our part, we can be uh subject matter experts to the city as to what's going on, but also what's appropriate to Kate May. U I I know your ordinance is based heavily
on what Lower Township has done and they're picking pick it up from that. Uh, but you know, Kate May is not lower township and there's a lot of differences. Uh, Kate May is not Trenton, even more differences. And Kate
May is not Washington DC. We we have our own peculiarities here. And so, um, we're going to be spending a a good amount of time looking at what's what what's ideal or the closest to ideal as
far as ordinances and regulation. of ebikes, primarily from a safety standpoint, but also from the standpoint of owners and riders of ebikes and and their um
abil ability to do do what they can from a from a personal standpoint within the boundaries of what's what's best safety. So, uh, I just want to say I look forward to, uh, our our team at the
advisory committee um, working with you all in in going forward. >> Thank you, Mr. Moffett, very much. Appreciate that. >> Jim, if I may, before you before you leave the podium, if I just want to just want to mention I just >> so I I appreciate I appreciate the the
fact that the bike and pedestrian, you know, committee reviewed the ordinance. I know um you and the entire group um reviewed it. I appreciate that and that you know you and the others you recognize the legal landscape that um
that it we need to deal with in the drafting of this ordinance that our city that our city solicitor needed to deal with be u because there's there's other um other aspects or we're limited as far as how much the city can regulate in
that regard. as you said, it's a it's a first step, but um you know, again, I appreciate that and I want to also thank you for the committee providing their assessment and you know, approving um the the passage of this particular
ordinance. Um uh I know that as you said in 2026, the committee has made it a point of emphasis as far as not just bike safety throughout Cape May, but um the ebikes as as well. So, I'm sure there's going to be additional
discussions um with uh the bike and pedestrian committee. U welcome you to come back before uh city council any time to address any of those issues. I know it's going to be um I know that you have ideas. Appreciate the fact that you've been chairperson. Looking forward to you continuing as chairperson for the
committee and as layers on to the committee. Um look forward to working with you. >> Good. And I I'll just say we enjoy working with you, Steve, as council's representative on our committee and u we're going to do good things in 2026
all together. Look forward to it. >> Okay. Thanks, Jim. >> Thank you again, Mr. Moffet. >> Deputy Mayor. Yes. >> Oh, I'm sorry. I don't know if there's any other public comment, but while while that's going on, I just wanted to note um there is
some activity in the legislature and there's a bill that's circulating. We'll see where that goes. We're heading into the end end of the year. Um and it deals largely with registration and insurance requirements for these types of ebikes. Doesn't necessarily delve into conduct,
which really is the heart of this ordinance. But I wanted to point out to council and to the public that the ordinance that we have on the table, it it really contemplates and and hopes and anticipates that the legislature will take action and regulate these in some
way. And to the extent that they do, any state laws that conflict for any reason with this ordinance, the state law, the ordinance offers up that the state law would control, we're sort of advocating for the legislature to do something. Um, but this is intended so long as there is
a gap in this type of conduct that this fill the gap and um to Mr. Moffett's point, I I um I know he's been advocating on these issues for for many years and that's a it's a valuable public service and I I just want you to
know that um in reviewing Lower's ordinance, we if we see good ideas out there, there's no pride in authorship. we, you know, if it works for the city, we'll want to find a way to incorporate it. But there are some good things in
here that I think are are a good fit for Kate May. And just to highlight them, um, as sort of a cliffnotes version of this, I mean, we're really talking about things like stop per for pedestrians and crosswalks. If you're under the age of 17, you should be wearing protective
helmet. Um, and we're not supposed to be riding these things on sidewalks and things like that. So really I think good things taking into consideration um you know the type of community that we have here and um and fortunately I think what
we're going to have with Lower Township particularly Skellingers Landing which is in Lower Township and West Cape May adopting this we're going to have hopefully end up with a sort of a Cape Island united front on these things so
long as and until the legislature acts. So it's at least it's filling in some sort of gap there for safety purposes. >> Thank you, Mr. Olen Schwarz. The other part that I think is when I saw that it was moving through the legislature, being able to regulate to perhaps
insurance as well as lensures at least might limit the amount of young kids riding these without having um some education or safety measure just sort of taking it out there. So you know it it does provide some hope that we're moving this in the right direction. So,
>> I have a quick question. Um, kind of following up on what you were saying, Mr. Gillan Schwarz. >> Do you think it would be uh beneficial for us to put a resolution urging um the state to do something in that in that
direction? >> I think we we did. >> Did we Did we do that? >> I think that actually came before we started talking about this about this. Okay. Yeah. Cuz when we heard that they, you know, that they were just kind of talking and not moving it through committee, >> I'm almost certain we did. Yeah,
>> we did. Okay. Okay. >> Then we did took action once Laura took action. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Okay. Any more comments from the public on uh resolution Sorry, I got myself agenda here. 582 to 2025.
No. Okay. Um then we'll move for adoption. Motion to adopt. >> I'll make the motion. I'll second. Any comments, council? Council member Meyer? >> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor McDade? >> Yes. >> Council member Bodner? >> Yes.
>> Council member Baldwin? >> Yes. >> Mayor Mullik? >> Yes. Sorry. >> Okay. All right. Moving on to public portion on resolutions only. Deputy Mayor. >> Yes. Do we have anyone from the public wishing to comment on resolutions only?
Please come forth. Stacy Shan, 928 Columbia Avenue. Uh, my first question, I just need some clarification. It has to do with resolution 350. Um, the bonding. Is that bond going to be 20 million plus the 7
million? That was that was for two separate that was for the uh the 20 million bond that we did and then the the 7 million notes. This was for what we already did this past summer. Um we had forgotten to do the professional services uh resolution.
Actually the the next >> Oh, so the first three resolutions >> already went out. >> These are the ones that we already did earlier this year. These first uh resolutions 350, 351, and 352 are confirming professional services that that these professionals worked on the
the issuance of those bonds back in in June earlier this year. >> Okay. Thank you for that clarification. My next question has to do with the sidewalk refurbishing bid. Is that just for the Columbia Avenue slate project? No, it's there was uh Columbia Avenue,
Virginia Avenue, there were some Ocean Avenue, and then there was a those are the three main streets, and then there were some scattered locations throughout uh the city. A lot of them had been identified through the Sha Tree uh commission. Um >> but I thought this bid I thought this
sidewalk refurbishing wasn't for just where the trees were. It was for people's all their slate sidewalks. >> Yes, it's it's it's a mix of it's it's a mix of both. >> Okay. So, we we're we're helping out like just certain streets with the sidewalks.
>> Got to start somewhere. Yes. >> Well, guess it depends on where you live. Um, my next question has to do with resolution 356. I understand the city manager got a new contract, but the appendix A was missing from the attachments. So, my question is, what is
his going to be his current salary versus what was his salary before? >> Mr. Gilman Schwarz, would you like to um address that for us, please? >> Sure. There's uh an update to the city manager's contract, >> and if you could just give me a moment
to pull this up. >> Yeah, I don't understand why it wasn't in the the attachments. >> It's it's not a very complicated update, and I'm happy to read it to you. >> Well, I just wanted to know also why it wasn't in in the in the attachments. >> Well, there's I'm I'm going to read it to you right now. I don't think there's
any intent to it's it's public information. >> It is public information and it it was it would have been nice was in the attachments. >> Go ahead. >> I'm going to read it. So, uh the original the prior contract salary um in
section 42 is going to remain the same. There's going to be an adjustment to the city manager portion of the salary for years 2026 and 2027. Um so the additional salary for city manager will be 2244
$22,044 a total combined annual salary of 160. And then for 2027 the additional salary will be 23,785 for a combined total annual salary of 164500
>> and that includes both the engineering and the >> yes >> city manager. >> So that I gave you the change to the city manager portion and then the total combined salaries. Those are the mod only modifications. >> What was it before? Do you have there what it was before? >> It 137 956
and 140 715 for 2026 and 2027, but plus 10 for the city manager portion. So the numbers that I read off before increased the city manager allocation to get to a
higher total annual amount. Uh my next question has to do with um the resolution for the bid for the lease concessions parcels. I I've noticed that um
usually it was like for staggers and things that were doing concessions like that and I noticed that recently we now have Congress Hall has a concession and the Montreal has I think has a concession. Are they all going to be going out for bid also? Did they go out
for bid? >> All of those will be publicly bid. Um what the city has done >> before and will be doing again is zones. So there's hotel zones and then there's more generalized zones, but each of them will be um >> but now do the only the hotel zones are
only those that hotel can bid on it. >> No. >> No. Okay. So it's open for everybody. >> It's it's it's an open bidding process. >> Okay. And I noticed before we had talked about um the council had about when they get the a lot of these hotels when they get these concessions that
they swarm the beach with chairs and umbrellas causing people not to be able to sit there. And I know we had talked about uh putting up a a map that says they're only allowed to be putting out so many in a certain area. Are we going to enforce that or at least when they
come out for bid explain to them what they are not allowed to do when it comes to setting up a 100 beach chairs and only three people sit in them a day? >> One of the the things that uh that was certainly discussed and I know that that's been a concern over the last few years and there's really two pieces to
that and the first part is that we are publicly bidding out these spaces for concessionire's use but that doesn't turn it into a private club. Mhm. >> So, and it may be little known, but is it is 100% part of the current framework and will be included in the the
successor framework that when it goes out to bid, which is that anybody from the public, John Q public can go and utilize one of these concessions, whether it's a hotel. Yes. Or and and that just the appearance of that. So, there can be an appearance of, oh, I can't sit there. But that's not the way
it is now. And that's going to be carried forward on the future bid so that any member of the public can go enjoy these concession era areas. >> And to your point about the space, >> um each one of these parcels is uniquely
sized, but what the city is considering doing is is providing some um uh >> parameters. >> Yeah, parameters for presetting up. So limited number of rows and limited to
one half of the >> the length of it. So essentially it's going to provide some guard rails to that so that it's not just a free-for-all for the entire parcel, right? >> Leave some room for the public and make sure that it's still an inviting space. So that that was a priority for this. >> Also with the number of chairs that they
set up in anticipation of is is usually a problem like I go to staggers. >> That's also included in this as part of the consideration. The linear feet will be defined. Mr. Dietrich has put together maps that will be shared with during the auction process and be posted
at the parcel location if there is a concession stand there. Um, MTRA has also, you know, weighed in on this and reviewed it. So, I I think the objective this time around was to try and address some of the concerns that have been raised in the past. It is difficult
because it requires sort of a constant monitoring and you know reinforcement of the rules. But we recognize that you know there's been um outcry at times from the public when they see the perception of what it looks like. So we we actually have been talking about how
we can make that uh appear not as blocked off and exclusive um and just you know uh something that the public is still able to use those areas. the chair issue and the number. We had a lot lot of discussion around that and I think that we're coming to some agreement on
how we can frame that in the in the contracts in the bids. >> We're also looking at sorry um having each concession air post a map so that they know where that is. So that way somebody from the public can come up there and do that and also so that the a lot of times the people that are out
there working the stands don't necessarily know where their limits are. So I so having that map is out there. We're also going to have posts so that we can define physically where those where the the limits are. So, not only there'll be a physical post. So, from an
enforcement standpoint, we'll be able to really identify, hey, are they within the area that they're supposed to be or not? So, we're adding some of that language, we're also going to add language, especially the hotel zones to say, hey, they're open and avail those chairs and umbrellas are open and
available for the public to rent. So just add more signage for I mean I don't think people are objected that in front of these hotels that these beach chairs can be rented. I think they were objecting to the fact that they're they're saving so much ground for >> taking up real estate >> taking up real estate.
>> Yeah. And that that's a real concern. I mean we want to we're bidding these out >> want to give we're bidding them out. So we want to give them an opportunity to conduct business but also don't want to exclude the public by just taking up right >> you know. So there's a little bit of a balancing act going on there, but it is
definitely a priority in the bidding documents. >> I mean, go I go to Stegers Beach and if you look down there, you can see Congress Hall is set up >> and there's only maybe a few people there during the day. >> We're trying to strike the balance. Yeah. So >> So, but thank you. I appreciate that.
>> Good evening. Jules R10 New York Avenue. Uh, correct me. The resolution 350, Phoenix Advisors, is that is that a new um service contract? >> It's
it is new in the extent that we needed to identify it at the time we do a a bid. But they're the firm that we've used in the past. >> We have been using them. Okay. Same firm that we've been using in the past. >> Don't recall that name. Um, a couple of little items.
There was a there was a bill for pavers for $95,000 for the park. Is is that part of the grant money or is that city money? >> Who was the >> bill 04935?
04 >> Think Pavers. >> Yeah, that's Think Pavers is the uh contractor at Lafayette Tree Park building where they're building the dog. >> So, this part of part of the part of the grant? >> Yes. >> And the same thing is true with the uh the prominade bill 66826
for 828,000. I'm assuming that's part of the grant as well. And that was for um >> Siobhan. Yes, that's part of the prominant preservation project. >> Okay. Thank you very much. >> Do we have anyone else wishing to speak
on resolutions? >> No. We'll close public comment. >> Council, is there anything you'd like to remove from the consent agenda this evening? >> All right. So, do we have a motion to accept the consent agenda? I'll make the motion
>> and I'll second. >> Council member Meyer. >> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor McDade. >> Yes. >> Council member Bodner. >> Yes. >> Council member Baldwin. >> Yes. >> Mayor Mullik. >> Yes. >> Right. On to new business. Okay. New
business. Um Mr. Gillan Schwarz. Any new business for council tonight? >> I I don't have anything to add. Um, I just want to thank you all for the opportunity to work with you, everybody, city staff, council, professionals, everybody, police, fire, and um, it's
been a great year, and there's been a lot of progress made. It's nice to see the foundation of the police station um, start. We've been working on that for a number of years now. So, I just want to congratulate everybody on that. Wish everybody a merry Christmas and happy new year.
>> Thank you, Mr. Mr. Dietrich, >> I'll just say uh if you can't tell, oh yeah, I'm ready for the holidays. Um so just want to wish everybody happy Hanukkah, merry Christmas, happy new year, and um if you've got some free time over the next three days and you
want to come wrap some presents, uh a small portion of these are the presents that you see behind us, they'll be all spread out and starting to be wrapped and and put together for uh families around the area. So, if you have a little free time and you want to try to volunteer, reach out to uh Duran or
Chief Ashaw and they will help get you involved in wrapping some presents if you don't have enough wrapping to do at your house. So, come on down and help. And uh just wish everybody happy new year. Thank you. >> Thank you, city clerk. >> Yes. So, um of course, just a reminder that city offices are closed on
Christmas for the holiday. Um council was provided some draft meeting dates. Um, nothing for action this evening. We just wanted to provide them the draft dates for 2026 in case there's any discussion, any changes that need to be made. I know there might be one date
that we might have to um alter if if there's anything you'd like to discuss right now or get back to me on that. >> So, the only one that I knew was a conflict for me was the Wednesday, February 18th, and I believe that Councilman Bodner also had the same conflict. So, if there was no issue with
keeping that on the day, Tuesday, um the 17th, appreciate that. >> Um I can make that change. I don't think there's any conflicts when I checked earlier. If any other member of council does have an issue with that, feel free to reach out to me on the side, too, and we can navigate that. We do have, you
know, a few weeks before reorg. All right. >> Um any other dates, times, anything that needs to be discussed at this point? >> I don't I don't think so. >> Okay. If anything comes up, please reach out on the side. Um, if not, we'll move forward with our reorganization meeting.
Right now is scheduled for January 6th at 4 PM. >> Be here before you know it. >> And that's it. Happy holidays, everybody. It's been a wonderful year looking into the new year. Thank you. >> Um, council members, Councilman Meyer,
do you have anything for us this evening? >> Uh, yes. Thank you, Deputy Mayor. I just want to mention uh Jay Shaz the chairman of the jet tree commission is in the hospital right now. Um you know a lot of the be a lot of what is beautiful in Kate May is a direct relation to him and all his work he's done for the many
years he's on that uh commission. So please keep him in your prayers. >> Yeah. He's been a oneman show a long time for that. Yeah. So okay best to his family and prayers and thoughts. >> Thank you. And then finally, I just want to thank all the uh the employees, the residents, the visitors for making this
another fantastic year. Happy New Year, happy uh merry Christmas, happy Hanukkah. >> Thank you, Councilwoman Baldwin. Any >> um just Yeah. Merry Christmas, happy Hanukkah. Um happy new year to everybody, but save the date. Uh May the
13th. >> I know we're really planning ahead. No. Um HPC is bringing back the um uh house awards um the awards. So uh we already have a date uh squared away. >> May May >> May the 13th. >> Thank you.
>> So we're we're planning ahead, but we have uh judges um pretty pretty um wonderful judges that are um coming down from the state. Um you know, very uh prestigious judges that are coming down.
Um the selection process has started and um yeah. >> Yeah. >> So cool. Thank you. >> That's all. Thank you, >> Councilman Bodner. >> Um look, it's a it's a great time of year in Kate May. I hope everybody has been getting out and about. I mean, it's hard not to be in the holiday spirit
when you just go around town. Um it's just beautiful. And thank you for everybody who in town, public works and all and contribute to make it so beautiful and wonderful and the organizations in town. uh to everybody just happy holidays, happy Hanukkah, merry Christmas, happy new year.
>> Thank you. Um I will just share one thing um first uh just as a followup. I guess about a month ago we had u a resident come for Mr. Garcia to ask us about putting um together, you know, or identifying a chatty bench uh in in the
city and working with Casey and Mr. Dietrich um identified the the bench outside the community center which I think is very appropriate and then came up with um this plaque that will be put on there and I'll just read it to you. It says welcome to to the happy to chat
bench. Sit here if you don't mind someone stopping to say hello and then at the bottom of the plaque it'll say encouraging communication, understanding and friendship in our community. Combating isolation and loneliness. if you think more people should visit this bench, why not post about it on our
local social media page and then it gives you the hashtags to do so. So, the plaque is in process to be made and we placed on that bench and then we'll sort of push it out there to make sure that people are aware of it location. But thank you to Mr. Garcia. Um, great idea. Um, and um, we're going to have that uh,
right outside the community center which I think is a perfect location. I'll just um add my happy holiday wishes to everyone a safe and happy and healthy uh happy new year. Um also please take care of yourselves and your loved ones and I
will turn it over to Mayor Mullik. You're on Mayor. >> I apologize that I'm not there everybody but I just uh wish everybody a merry Christmas and happy holidays and uh I just appreciate working with all of you and wish everyone a great new year.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. All right. So, are there any additional public comments to be made this evening? Okay. Um, Chief Fashel, and then this gentleman, >> I just want to echo the sentiments um that everyone shared. Happy holidays.
Uh, we look forward to a bright new year. I just want to thank council, mayor, council, deputy mayor, >> Miss Baldwin, Mr. Mr. Bodner, Mr. Meyer, um, for everything you've done for us over the years. We've we've finally culminated we've come to a position with the police department with the um new building. It's going to be a long haul,
but we're there. You know, we're where we need to be, and it would not be possible without you, the residents, um you know, all the taxpayers and businesses to support us with that. Um I can't speak highly enough for my city manager, my DCM, uh Mr. Riggs, and Mr. Dietrich. Daily we're we're in
communication daily. I think we, you know, probably get tired of one another texting and calling each other, but it's it's seven day a week operation. We're, you know, we're moving forward. Um, I was just on the phone today with Mr. Gilling Schwarz. Like, I don't think we could operate without Chris. Um, I think
we all know that CGS. Call CDS first. Call CDS first. Um, so you must hear your your name in the middle of the night sleeping. But, um, secondarily, the employees that I work with every day, not just the police department, the public works, fire department, all the staff in city hall. Um, you know, we
can't be patted on the back enough, but we make the city run. Um, not so much me, but my patrol division, my detectives, my staff. What you see behind you is a culmination from Durant's heart and NEA, my new secretary as well. Um, my SEO's Tess and Kate. Um,
all of them that work hard for this. This room will be filled and there will be trees that will be very filled with gifts because of their their determination. And they started with Sergeant Alvarez 30 years ago. Um, Duran refuses to let it die. Um, it's my office looks like an elf blew up in it.
Um, but anyway, thanking everyone for everything. Like I said, we couldn't do this without you guys. Um, the DCM, the CM, um, pretty awesome team we have here. Like I said, it's, you know, I go around looking at the different municipalities and the way other people work. Hands down, Kate May's got it.
Thank you. >> Thank you, Chief, for everything. Please pass along our well wishes to everyone on your team. Thank you. >> Okay. Yes, sir. >> Purple 8, 1313 Massachusetts Avenue. Uh,
understand that uh the sign poles are going to be black or they're going to be coming in black. I've talked to I called the grounds department or whatever department you want to call them down there a numerous times. Rusty has not returned. Thank you, Aaron. She
communicated to me. Apparently the new polls because Massachusetts and uh Wisconsin has not been replaced in like four months. You know what's wrong with the galvanized polls? According to her message, they're going to be black.
>> I sir, I I don't Mr. Der, I don't know what polls we're talking about. >> Well, the the sign polls for the street sign polls. >> Oh, the >> street sign polls. >> Yes, sir. certain locations we are transitioning over to black poles. You know, I can follow up when with public
works to find out why yours hasn't been reinstalled. But >> yeah, I mean to me it's about communication. You know, I worked in public service for 40ome years and I don't know why he choose to uh basically avoid my phone calls and and stopping
by. I was more than impite. >> What was the street location again? >> It's Wisconsin and uh Massachusetts, sir. Okay. >> So, DPW has confirmed that it is on their radar and and after the holiday once the decorations come down, they do
plan on addressing that. >> Yeah. But I'm just wondering why what's wrong with galvanized ps. The cost you to me it's about prioritizing, you know, costs. Can we do that for 26? Start prioritizing things because of costs.
You know, I believe in fiscal policy. Does this include uh street signs such as the actual names of the street? >> That's a very good question. My understanding is just polls, but is it going to be street signs too? I don't know. >> I'll talk with public. There are certain
areas that we are doing black polls as far as the historic district, but I got I'll talk with like I said, we'll follow up with you. >> Okay. >> The reason I brought up my number the question was because >> I think staff has it. >> Okay. The majority of their street signs are black with white lettering.
>> Yeah. So certainly Village Green thought behind that. >> Yeah, Village Green certainly. I'm not familiar with Massachusetts and that one in particular is not, but I know ours Well, I I know they Pennsylvania they they they changed it out and I'm almost certain. So I'm just visualizing that one in my head and I'm certainly
thinking Vermont and Ohio. >> We'll I'll coordinate with public works district. We'll circle back with you. I'm sorry. >> Okay. >> Thank you. Another uh question is you know I guess with the water bill you send this nice glossy thing about uh you
know how much revenue has come in why not put it in what's the deficit what is a deficit how how much you know is the city in debt how much are we in debt be kind of interesting you know you know besides the revenue that's coming in for
these you know different things which I think is wonderful utility beach utility water utility tourism utility, but what is shouldn't the public be aware of the deficit, you know, because of possibly tax purposes down the road, tax increases?
>> You can probably take a look most of that information is also posted on our website. So, you can free to take a look at the website and take a look at what that >> information is. >> And we do a presentation every year when the budget is presented and part of that is the capital and part of that is the debt service and the schedule for the
debt service. So, that is done every year. So that happens in the spring. So keep an eye out for the agenda. Generally around March and April, you'll see that that will be part of an agenda meeting and an explanation by our CFO um
as well as sometimes the auditor will also participate. So there is a very extensive presentation that's done publicly too. >> Yes. Generally in the springtime. Yes. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Okay. You're welcome. Jules RS 1010 New York Avenue. Um, I too
would like to wish everyone a very happy holiday, safe, happy, enjoyable, and a great 19 2026 and thank you very much for 2025. >> Okay. I'm a strong believer in community
participation and I enjoy the opportunity to come before you on a monthly basis or twice monthly. Um in line with that I've been very concerned about the the the dowl plan and um
uh when the last at the last meeting there was a description that you were going to do it in in phases. you were going to build a building first and then have it fully designed and put it out for a bid. Um, correct me if I'm wrong, but the water
and sewer utility is the entity that really operates the Delaw plant and that the expenses and the revenue goes into the water and
sewer utility and and it basically that pays for whatever debt or charges are for the for the the new delies plant coming down the road. Um do
the city of Kate May will actually be the owner of the DAL plant. The local municipalities that participate they're basically customer particip participants and they they are charged for the amount
of water that they use. At what point will we be able to provide both for the taxpayers of Cape May as well as for the taxpayers in the adjoining municipalities some form of estimate as to what the
cost will be for the water for a once the project is a completed project and we know what the costs are. I know it it's a that's a that's a big ask, but it's something that I think needs to be looked at so that we have
some form of idea as to what this new project is going to cost. Um and and try to to have some feeling for, you know, how many how many dollars per thousand gallons is it going to cost the city
residents and what the bulk rates are going to be charged for the municipal municipalities and are they are they willing to pay that amount of money? Now, I know we have a contract with the local municipalities, but um I
don't know to what extent they have to approve or deny paying whatever amount it is we say we need. So, my my my request uh Mr. De Creek is that we develop a a financial model, if you
will, of what what it will cost to complete the plant to operate it and what our revenue needs will will be to cover the expenses. Um, and I know it's a
>> so so as as as I dis we we had a presentation at the last meeting where we discussed the project and I detailed at that point that we've started working on that draft model and we anticipate, you know, rolling that model out to council uh in the spring before the
project goes out to bid. So all of that information will be brought here before council and discussed and before the project goes out to bid. Oh, I would Yeah, I would certainly hope that it would go out. I mean, I don't see it going out to bid before the maybe the
fall of of next year or maybe you're anticipating a much earlier date than that. >> In order to maintain funding, we're anticipating it to go up to bid in late spring. >> The spring of 20 26. >> Yes. because we needed to have in order
to maintain our grant funding with the I bank the NJD we have to have it awarded before January 30th. >> Will will D require their approval um before it goes out for bid? who? Yes,
the D has to have an approval if we actually had a public hearing earlier this week uh for the project based on the D funding and and we had no participation from the public at that public hearing. >> Was that an a public meeting
>> publicly? Yep. And it was advertised. >> Huh. Sorry, I missed it >> at the last meeting. >> Yes. >> Yep. >> Thank you very much. >> You're welcome. Stacy Shan, 928 Columbia Avenue. Um,
just a little clarification on that. So, we don't have D written approval at this point. >> We have the treatment works approval. >> What did you say? I'm sorry. What was that? >> The treatment works approval. So, we have the approval for the treatment process. The treatment, so to speak.
>> Um, we are in the the CAF the D CAFER review and anticipate having that permit mid January late January I believe that's when the 90-day permit review time is up and the the New Jersey I bank
uh who the public hearing was required by um is re doing the final review of the the plans and specs and you know has we had to get their approval before we put the project out to bid. >> Okay. Okay. My question was D approval. You got by bank CAFA and treatment process,
>> right? They're all D. The CAF is >> I'm looking for the building D approval. >> I don't >> I I don't know because at the last meeting you mentioned you had D approval. >> Yeah, for the treatment works approval. For the D the treatment works approval permit, we had that permit. >> Okay.
>> So we need multiple permits from the D. >> Right. Yeah. So the only only one you have in written is for written approval is the treatment process. Correct. >> Okay. Which is kind of like we already had it was kind of like not changing anything. >> Yeah. That we're changing. We had to get a new permit for the whole treatment
process we're doing. >> Right. But I mean still doing the filters, right? Del. >> Yeah. >> Right. So it's not really changing that process. It >> it's still needed a new permit, >> right? Okay. But it's not Okay. >> Um so you're still working on I bank and CAFA. >> Caffra.
>> Do you need a um the building itself? >> That's all part of it. That's all part of the project. >> That's part of the CA. as part of what the caffer permit >> the caffa one. Okay. Um my next question has to do um I see the
the conduit on the boardwalk. Is there a plan to put more arches on that boardwalk that I missed or anything? No. Okay. >> Okay. Just just making sure because sometimes you know >> we've had no updated presentation at this meeting probably in over a year.
>> Okay. And Jacob Jones, are we still in hold mode for that? We have not heard back from the Jacob Jones committee since their last presentation at this meeting. >> Okay. Thank you. Because sometimes I get asked and I just want to make clarification. Thank you. >> Thanks.
>> Okay. Any more comments? All right. Well, merry Christmas, happy new year, healthy 2026 to everyone. This meeting is adjourned. >> That makes >> time is 6:36. Yes, Mr. Thank you.
>> I counted it, but thank you. Okay, >> that's my favorite one. >> Okay, sorry.