Are you meeting to order. All right, mayor, you're on speaker. We're going to get started this evening with the regular meeting of the city council of the city of Cape May. Today's date is Tuesday, February 17th at 5:00
pm. We are in city hall auditorium and Mayor Zach Mullik is joining us via phone. Let's stand for the pledge of allegiance. To the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for 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 in the breast of Atlantic City and a copy of the agenda was delivered to each member of city council, posted on the city website and Kate May 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 Mullock >> here. >> City solicitor Gillan Schwarz >> here. >> City Manager Dietrich >> here. >> Deputy Manager Riggs >> here. >> Deputy Clerk Turner
>> here. >> And CFO Reid >> here. >> All right. First on the agenda, we have the uh fiscal year 2026 NJDCA CDBG application presentation and a public hearing from Mr. Mark Blau, our grant consultant.
Thank you, Mark, for coming in tonight. >> Yep. >> And and Mark, you can pick it up if you're moving around. You can speak right into that for us, please. Thank you. >> Thank you, Erin. Um we're having a public hearing tonight uh preparatory to another grant application to the New
Jersey Department of Community Affairs for the Small Cities Community Development Block Grant Program. This is the program we've used for the last five consecutive years to obtain grants for various improvements in the city. Myself
and Paul and Vincent from engineering design commonly work together the comp project ideas that we use to apply once a year for block grant funds up to $400,000. Uh going back to 2001 we had succeed
with a $400,000 grant for water transmission main to improve the city's water infrastructure. 2022 a application originally suggested by Mayor Mullik for ADA compliance improvements at Kuanas Park. 2023
another project that was brought to um the uh to the forefront by the council which was beach mats and uh beach wheelchairs and a replacement for one of the um existing ADA compliance ramps at
Mount Vernon. That was another $400,000 project. these projects are completed. The most recent project completion was the beach mats. In the summer of 2025, the DCA small city staff actually visited and saw that project and they
were much impressed by it. U more recently, we've gotten from the last two years grant funds for ADA compliance improvements at the tennis club. that project is designed and it's nearing the point where we're going to bid the
fiscal 2425 funds again ADA compliance improvements. So, we've had a success for five consecutive years roughly $1.5 million of grant funds. Uh this year, um myself and Paul and Vince talked about
possible projects. The one that we are focused on is the one that is in the handout from HMR, the architects. If anybody needs a copy, I have extra copies here. Uh we're looking at the physicate museum and the idea is to
improve the restroom facilities to make them fully ADA compliant. It's an existing need that's not yet met. It's part of a larger project of the city to improve the physicate and it's an excellent project. The city owns the property and with 70,000 plus
visitors a year. It's imperative that we make it fully ADA compliant. Like so many other facilities we've made ADA compliant in the city. Uh the rough cost is $298,000. The expectation is we'll apply for the
grant fund for the construction with the city paying the architect. The balance of roughly $130,000 to be available in the uh potential grant will be using for ADA compliant street improvements at various intersections. The one that
comes to mind is Elmmyra, but others will be suggested as well as we move along. Uh, part of the city's ongoing efforts to make the all street improvements ADA compliant and accessible for people with either walkers or wheelchairs or motorized
scooters or even somebody with a cane who has trouble negotiating a typical curb. Uh, the depressed curb cuts make that far simpler for those people. So, we're looking at roughly a $400,000 grant application for hard cost of
construction and the balance of cost would be uh for the HMR architects and for engineer design associates which would be the basically the city's local match. This application uh is being discussed tonight because we have an opportunity to apply between now and
March 11th. We have resolutions on the agenda tonight to authorize this application. Uh, I have various forms already in hand and we're going to replicate what we did in former years and give a good try to get this project approved and we'll likely know yes or no
sometime in the summer which means that we could possibly be constructing this project over the winter of 20627 into you know the summer spring of uh 2027. Uh again uh I'm Mark Blau. I'm a grant writer. I'm not an engineer architect,
but I rely on people like Paul to help me out with those those fine points. Uh I'm based in Burough, Pennsylvania. I've had the pleasure of working for the city since 2010 on many many projects. And this is your opportunity uh to ask
questions or to make comments about this specific project idea. Uh to make Erin's job easier, uh identify who you are so we can put your name into the transcript that we will submit with the grant application. Thank you very much.
>> So, at this time, Mark, would you like them to come forward if anybody has questions? >> Yes. >> From the public. >> And if you wouldn't mind just stating your name and address for the record. Thank you, Jules. >> Jules Ralph, 1010 New York Avenue. This project, as I understand it, involves
the city uh having an obligation to pay for the architectural fees. Is is that correct? We're going to have an obligation for a minimum of a 10% match second mark. >> It's just for the match. So, not necessarily, you know, we'll be able to
split up depending on what we do with the project of how we spend that match. >> Is there any any ability at this point to under uh understand what the obligation will be as far as the physic physicate goes
at architectural expense? So that they will they are already underway for their process. So in most likelihood I will probably not be use utilizing their architectural design services as
match because it's they are doing additional architectural services that are broader in scope than just our singular project. So I'll probably utilize engineering design associates uh design fee for and because his design is
a greater portion than that I I believe that engineering design associates design and cost construction management fees will exceed the match amount required for the project. The re the reason I I make this ask this question is we've we've tried to be very clear in
uh with all of our nonprofits that the expenses that the nonprofits incur are their expenses not the city taxpayers expenses. And I only I I guess I guess I I raised that question and asked that we
be um careful in assuming any responsibility for the expenses that are directly attributed to the physical estate because if you want to start that ball of u incurring expenses for nonprofits, it's a slippery slope in my
opinion. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Uh Paul, just very quickly, if we get 400,000, our minimum match obligation is 40,000 or 10%. Uh if we spend more, um it actually makes it a bit more competitive. Uh the
reason that I try to put the professional fees in the match is that it it avoids losing three months on advertising for professional services. And to do it the the way the DCA wants takes good two three months of of a process. Uh paying for the professional
fees out of local funds lets us spend all the grant for construction and things move along very quickly. >> But as Mr. Roush says the the design fees will not be city cost. That'll be at the expense of the physicist. You know the MAC will be handling those
>> because Mr. G you're saying that they're doing other work down there and you intend to have them leverage that the other correct that's being done. >> Correct. We're they're really leveraging you know since >> it really started they they had made an application to the county for some county open space money retrofit and
then they had the discussion. So we looked at parlaying some of our ADA money into ADA accessibility and bathrooms at the physics estate. So we would, you know, at the physics state, it's only going to cover the portion that it would be construction. They will
handle all of their own design fees, >> design fees and construction management fees for their portion of the project as part of their project. >> We would only be attributing the construction funds. and I feel comfortable that there'll be sufficient
match money to to handle um the required match for the grant outside of needing to look at their fees. >> Uh Paul, on the the budget that we've been working with from HMR, um would the professional fees that they identified be something that the physic estate is
paying? >> Yes. >> So that we're well, we can you can we can use their payments as leverage. Um we can claim it. And so that in this case the 271,700 would be granted. >> Right. I I just really wanted to make clear that the city is not going to be responsible. And I think that's what Mr.
Roush was wanting to make sure and clarify that the city was not going to be paying for or attributing any of our city funds whether match or um otherwise >> otherwise towards the architectural fees of the project. I think that's what Mr. Rous was >> That's right. And for the street
improvements with EDA, we're we're we're paying for that. >> Yes. Okay. >> Okay. So, is that everyone's clear on that? Okay. >> Thank you, Mr. Blower. >> Thank you, Mark. >> Anyone else?
>> Just keep that here. >> So, seeing no more public comment, let's move on. We do have this listed as a consent agenda. Should council want to adopt um the following resolutions in one motion. I will read them off for the
record. We have 101-026 resolution authorizing professional services agreement between the city of Kate May and Blau Associates for the fiscal year 2026 NJDCA public facilities grant. 102026 resolution for the adoption of a state
model citizen participation plan for DCA small cities program. 10302 20226 resolution identifying small city's fair housing officer. 1042 20226 resolution for the approval of public facilities grant management plan. And 10502 20226
resolution approving submission of fiscal year 2026 small cities public facilities application. If we have a motion to accept the consent agenda relating to this grant. >> I'll make a motion. >> Do we have a second? >> I'll second. >> Any discussion from councel?
Okay, roll call. Council member Meyer, >> yes. >> Deputy Mayor McDeade, >> yes. >> Council member Bodner, >> yes. >> Council member Baldwin, >> yes. >> Mayor Mullik, >> yes. >> Okay. Thank you, Mark. >> Appreciate it. I'll be in touch with everything tomorrow. Okay.
>> Appreciate very much. >> Take care. All right. Moving on to resolution 10602 2026. A resolution recognizing Kate May police Captain John Bobc. We have a motion. >> I'll make the motion. >> We a second.
>> A second. Can I >> The official date for um Captain Bobic um to leave our service is coming up. I believe it's the 27th. Is that correct? >> His walkout date is 27th. Yeah, I believe his last official date is March
uh 1st. Yeah, I think I speak for the mayor and certainly everyone here can express their own, but um sadly missed a very fine officer who has given um you know his life to the service of Kate May, West Kate May, Kate May Point um
and just stellar outstanding individual. So we would like to publicly thank him for his service to the city of Kate May uh and the surrounding burrows. So thank you doc um you know Captain Bobic. All right, we're ready for roll call council. Are any other comments?
>> Okay. Council member Meyer? >> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor McDeade? >> Yes. >> Council member Bodner? >> Yes. >> Council member Baldwin? >> Yes. >> Mayor Mullik? >> Yes. >> All right. Um, >> we're going to skip updates and old business for right now and go right to
bond ordinances. Aaron. >> Sure. Yep. We're going to go a little out of order just while we have Mayor Mullik with us on the phone. Deputy mayor and city clerk may want to add the appointment, mayoral appointment to that list of things to move. >> Very good call. Yes.
>> So, let's get through the bond ordinances and then we will go through the mayoral appointment as well. Okay. Mayor. >> Yep. >> All right. So, we've got bond ordinances for introduction. We have 596-2026, a bond ordinance providing for various
speech and utility improvements. Thank you. buying in the city of Kate May, county of Kate May, state of New Jersey, appropriating $300,000 therefore and authorizing the issuance of 300,000 bonds or notes to the city to finance the cost thereof. If we have a motion to introduce 596.
>> I'll make the motion. >> I'll second. >> Second. >> Deputy mayor, if I could just make a comment before we vote. Um, I have a budget present capital budget presentation that'll go over all of these. So anybody in the public that you know we're going through several bond or
bond ordinances and you're probably wondering what they're for and what are we doing this for if we were in correct order I would have done my presentation then you would have had these and it would have been fully aware of what these were for. So just for the public's awareness.
Hold on and I'll get to what those are answer your questions when we get to my presentation. But >> I just wanted to make that comment so for the the point of clarification >> they know what it's coming up. Y >> thank you first reading. So there'll be another opportunity to >> Yes. And so research
>> and do more questions >> later. Exactly. Thank you for that Mr. Meyer. >> Five none. >> All right. Ready for roll call. Council member Meyer. >> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor McDade. >> Yes. >> Council member Bodner. >> Yes. >> Council member Baldwin. >> Yes.
>> Mayor Mullik. >> Yes. We have 597 2026 a bond ordinance providing for various 2026 capital improvements buying in the city of Kate May County of Kate May state of New Jersey appropriating 3,780,000 therefore and authorizing the issuance
of 3,65,997 bonds or notes of the city to finance part of the cost thereof. If we have a motion to introduce 597. >> I'll make a motion. >> I'll second. >> Any questions? Council.
>> Council member Meyer. >> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor McDade. >> Yes. >> Council member Bodner. >> Yes. >> Council member Baldwin. >> Yes. >> Mayor Mullik. >> Yes. >> 598-2026. Bond ordinance providing for various water sewer utility improvements by and
in the city of Kate May, County of Kate May, state of New Jersey, appropriating $400,000 therefore and authorizing the issuance of $400,000 bonds or notes in the city to finance the costs thereof. If we have a motion for 598. I'll make the motion.
Second. >> I'll second. >> Questions. Council. >> Council member Meyer. >> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor McDade. >> Yes. >> Council member Bodner. >> Yes. >> Council member Baldwin. >> Yes. >> Mayor Mullik. >> Yes.
and 599 2026 bond ordinance providing supplemental funding for various water sewer utility improvements buying in the city of Kate May County of Kate May state of New Jersey appropriating $1,475,000 therefore and authorizing the issuance of $1,475,000
of bonds or notes of the city to finance the cost thereof. If we have a motion to introduce 599 council, >> I'll make that motion. >> I'll second questions, comments. Council member Meyer, >> yes. >> Deputy Mayor McDade, >> yes. >> Council member Bodner, >> yes.
>> Council member Baldwin, >> yes. >> Mayor Mullik, >> Mayor Mullik, we are voting on 599 2026. Oh, thank you. >> Sorry. >> Nope, no worries. Thank you. >> All right. So then, if we'd like to move along to um there is a mayoral appointment on the agenda this evening
while we have Mayor Mullik on the phone. It is to the Shade Tree Commission. It's um Kathy Drake fulfilling the uh currently vacant alternate one position of the Shade Tree Commission. Is that correct? Uh mayor, >> that's correct. And I thank her for her
uh willingness to serve. >> Wonderful. Thank you. >> Okay. >> So, now we'll turn it over to Mr. Dietrich. Yes. >> Um who will give his presentation and >> the mayoral appointment? I didn't think we did. >> Oh, okay. >> I'm sorry.
>> Yeah. Um, so, uh, Mr. Dietrich, >> let me get my present. >> Gonna get him connected here. Thank you. Um, so now we're going to go over uh my presentation for the capital budget for 2026. And we just introduced
four of the ordinances that were really going to be presented here. But now we'll kind of go through uh the the timeline that we're looking at and uh general information about what's incorporated in all those. Um obviously this was part of the agenda packet so
the public has had the availability to review this but also I will be uploading this to the website under in the um finance section so that this specific presentation will be able to be easily captured without looking through the whole council packet.
Uh so the budget timeline um over the last couple weeks I've been meeting with uh each member of council to kind of go over the items in in the capital budget. Uh we're looking at introducing the uh the ordinances this evening um followed
up by uh public review. Then we're going to look at having a public adoption on March 14th. After the March 14th date, there's a 20-day estoppel period. Really puts us around April 14th. And and a lot of this kind of puts us in a timeline to get
some of these projects moving uh to to essentially have them out to bid before the summertime and a lot of the stuff so that we can kind of keep them moving throughout the year. Uh capital budget, we're looking at 3.78 $3,780,000
for general capital items. Um, we have had several requests and and we think we've been prudent over the last several years that we're putting $987,000 of capital work and projects and equipment into the budget. So, not, you know, we're going to discuss it here,
but not part of the ordinance. So, we're not going to be going out for long-term debt for those items. You know, we're going to be purchasing them directly through the budget. And I think that's been a request and recommendation um for several years from the TPA and MTRA to look at those kinds of things. Um we're
looking at the water and sewer capital bond uh for two different projects uh general improvements and then also we need a little bit more funding after the engineer went through uh his preparing the specs. He you know beyond what we
had the 2 million from last year's bond. We need a little bit more to make sure we have enough contingency to uh complete the project. And we're looking at $300,000 for capital beach capital work. And that puts us at a total of uh $4,480,000. So how do those projects kind of break
down? Uh here's a general summary. Um we're looking at we need 350,000 for uh police building and technology. uh some repairs at Convention Hall, uh Lafayette Street Park, ADA grant match to projects
that we just talked about and last year's project. Uh the Bank Street retaining wall um the Bank Street retaining wall um is a project we we we funded last year and we started it um but we need some more seed money to continue the uh engineering phase of the
project. Uh and the uh out this Bank Street retaining wall will essentially kind of connect at the bridge on Elmmyra Street that goes over Cape Island Creek, run down behind the uh the substation that's on Venice and then connect back
along the back side of the Bank Street parking lot as it gets up to higher ground. Um, as everybody's aware, that is probably a location that has some of the most frequent nuisance flooding we have in the city that affects daily commuters that travel along Elmyra
Street and the residents in that area. Um, you we get a full moon high tide uh without even a good rainstorm and that street floods. Uh we've done a good job about putting Tylex valves to kind of lessen the that impact. But once you hit
a moderate stage level of flooding, the banks literally not Bank Street, but those banks just really over top and it's into the street, it's in, you know, you know, if you're parking your car, it gets flooded out. So, it's really to prevent that that flooding over time. Um
the design will tell us how high we have to go and where we'll be tie in. Uh it's not going to be higher than the Bank Street, you know, that the bridge that goes over Cape Island Creek. Um but it will elevate it enough to kind of keep the water in the creek and not into the
street. Um the other thing is we talked about last year for OEM automated weather warning system here. Again, this would allow us to have a an alert system that would instead of having to send a person out to verify, oh, there's water in the street and then to set off the
flood sirens, this would have an automatic sensor, sense the water, and then be able to shoot the message to residents as they would want them. Um, police have to update their tasers uh so they can have a safer method to uh
subdue and uh con contain suspects that um may need to be there. We're looking to expand uh the sidewalk project. We're getting ready. We just had a pre-construction meeting today to uh kick off our sidewalk project. Um so this would be a second phase of that to
continue on. Uh we're also looking at a road paving project here. Again, this would be a road pavement project that does for roads that don't need utility work and then a project also to do safety improvements. Um the capital what's going in the capital uh of that
$987,000. We're going to continue to expand our security cameras throughout the city to help enable our um police force to uh make sure that we're keeping a good eye on our buildings and facilities
u and keep them safe. We have some repairs to uh different municipal buildings that it needed. Um we're going to look to uh we had started a process of purchasing vehicles through Enterprise. This would be to make the final payment to uh pay off those um
vehicles that we've already taken possession of through the lease program. Um some additional money for police and fire safety equipment. Um and then under beach capital it's we have to do some work uh on the prominade speakers and
also uh some additional improvements of ground. If you remember last year we did uh the Mount Vernon crossover. So we're looking at you know the crossover that's up at Wilmington Avenue needs to be replaced and do some other beach crossover work similar to that.
This just kind of continues to go over some of some of those streets that we're looking at paving in that capital project. We're looking at those uh New Jersey Avenue, Broad Perry Street, Grant Street, and then also Elmyra Street. Um those traffic safety improvements. We're
looking at looking at the Elmyra Street, Bang Street, Decar Street corridor to kind of improve a bike safeway through that area and kind of move those bicyclists, you know, north south along there. also looking at Stockton Avenue,
Queen and Jefferson Street, looking at what opportunities we might have in those corridors. There was a um last year we had a a bond for water sewer for the New Jersey New Jersey Infrastructure Bank. Um we have found some we looking to do a change order to
add Winona and Swan. Uh Winona and Swan, we received uh last year a $110,000 grant from the DOT. So, we've shuffled around some of the clean water and drinking water monies within the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank, and we can
do a little more maximizing of that principal forgiveness that we're eligible for. Uh, but we had to do a a supplemental bond to add some additional funds into that bond and and a lot of it was as more as moving the funds between the two so that we can maximize the
principal forgiveness. um princip uh the police building, you know, we still have when we bonded that additional funds last year for the police station building, um we we didn't go to the full amount because we had to we had to limit the amount we put in
there because of our cap based on what we had in the budget to pay the their cap portion of the bond. So therefore, we need to add some construction costs, um furniture, security, and technology. Um that's still was not programmed into the
funded last year. So we have to fund that additional work. Um the the work at the ADA improvements at the tennis club and physics state that project is about 99% uh out to bid. Uh we're just waiting
really we have to wait at this point until the budget is adopted to because last year we did not include that as a chapter 159 when we got the second phase of the ADA grant. So I can't put a project out to bid. You can't do a 159
in this part of the year. So we have to wait until it's actually incorporated in the budget to include it. So soon as the uh budget is adopted, we'll be able to put that project out to bid, but we may wait and have this project start in the fall so that we're not disrupting through the uh the tennis club or the
physics estate during the the higher season. Again, here we're going to continue to um uh make an application to the county for Lafayette Street Park for the completion of Lafayette Street Park. Um, but most likely we're also going to have to time that with the work and
completion of the police station building. So, that'll be some timing factors there. Um, so the equipment purchases, uh, I did talk about the automated weather warning system. Um, but we're looking at, uh, one $1,385,000
for purchase of an ambulance. Um, if you recall, you authorized an ambulance for purchase before I became city manager. We still haven't received it. So, we kind of have to start thinking about now the next ambulance we need because it's
going to take almost a year to get this one in. We did find another manufacturer that says that they can get it sooner. Um, but I'm not holding my breath, but we're going to start that process now so that we can not have to wait another 3 years uh to get another ambulance. Uh,
we we need to replace the uh beachfront recycle truck. So, it's not the residential larger truck that picks up the residential recycling. This is a smaller one that you see picking up recycling around the mall and along the beachfront. Um, we're going to need to upgrade some of our police vehicles. A
hook and lift truck is a truck that public works uses. Um, it's essentially looks like a rolloff truck, but has a big grappling arm on the on the side of it that so it can pick up brush small and large appliances and put them in the
back. um saves on workers comps so that employees don't have to lift those large unwieldy objects, puts them in the back. And then we may have a a future benefit that in the public works yard where we have all the rolloff containers where residents drop off items, we pay a
service to have them transported up to the um transfer station, dumped and returned. um if with this truck we're we're possibly be able to retrofit and change out some of the rolloff containers and so that we can haul them ourselves saying on saving on some of
those delivery fees. And then the mechanic shop needs a uh tire balance lift machine so that they can do work on the tires themselves as opposed to sending the tire to have them unmounted and dismounted off the rims.
Again, here's a beach capital stuff. We have to uh upgrade the um do some upgrades on the speakers um and some general improvements. By the way, uh here on the agenda this evening, uh we have on the consent agenda is to
authorize to go out to bid for the uh water tower. So, we are ready to go out to bid for this. Um but this will just be I think we just going to need possibly a little bit more funds to um maybe get there, but also help cover any of the construction administration
costs. um for the project. Again, just to reiterate, $987,000 that are going to go into the capital budget, not the capital bonding. So, no long-term finances for some, uh smaller, uh building improvements. Beach
headquarters, uh the Broadway our Broadway building, uh both need some roof work. Uh, city hall needs to start doing some work on the pointing. So, we're going to have some design and engineering work done for that. Um, and here's our public safety
equipment that we're going to be doing some more security cameras and those types of things. Uh, and then I'm just going to end it with our nice um continued look at our debt ratio. Um uh Miss Reed did post our
uh debt statement up earlier and um our debt ratio did drop again um down to 839 for 2025. So that's that's what we're looking for. That's those that kind of describes a
little more in detail the four bond ordinances that you um introduced earlier. >> Thank you. Uh Mr. Dietrich. Um, council, do you have any questions at this time? No. Okay. >> Okay. Um, so this is first reading on
these ordinances. There will be a public hearing um at the second reading. Uh, Miss Reed is here now. Um, do we want to just take any questions? We don't necessarily, we're not making this, you know, um, open, but if you have
questions, you can certainly ask them and we'll get back to you during the second reading if you're not able to attend. we okay, Mr. Roush? But again, we're not necessarily, you know, this is not a public hearing portion.
>> Jules Rouse, 1010 New York Avenue. Uh, each of the four bonds u has a cost associated with with each of the bonds. Is that funding incorporated into the
debt of the bond or is that paid for by cash with the from the city? >> The the four that we introduced tonight will be ultimately paid by long-term debt. So, there'll be short-term debt for the
until 2027, I think, is when our next long-term debt bond matures. And then then we'll be going out for additional long-term financing in 2027 where these different issuances will be rolled into that long-term debt. But it,
as an example, the the the the bond 596, that debt's $300,000. And they talk about costs of 60,000. What does that 60,000 cost represent? And is that paid for? Is that built into the debt or is
it paid for by by the by cash? The 60,000 is paid by the revenue out of the um it's paid out of the budget now, but the rest of the remaining would be >> so it's being paid for by the by the
taxpayers in effect. >> Well, all of it's paid by the taxpayers. Yes. >> But it's not be it's not part of the debt. >> No, the 60,000 would not be part of the long-term debt. >> You're not financing the costs to create the bonds. >> Correct. And that's true in each of the the four
cases. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Just for the record, I did lose the mayor. Um, right. >> Working to get him back possibly. I will let her know. >> Um, Mike, I just have a question about
Enterprise because we went into leasing these vehicles through Enterprise. Have we decided not to lease anymore? >> Correct. >> Okay. So, >> yeah. Correct. >> Okay. So for because I mean that's why we got rid of a lot of those other police cars because we were leasing. So now we're just going to buy them all out at this point. >> Correct.
>> Stacy, just name and address real quick for >> Oh, I'm sorry. 928 Columbia Avenue. >> Thank you, Stacy Sheen. Appreciate. >> Okay. Again, there will be an opportunity for the public to ask any questions uh at second reading. >> March 17th will be the second. >> March 17th. Thank you.
>> Yep. >> All right. Um, do we want to go back to asking about updates on old business? Uh, >> yeah. Manager, were you going to speak on the beach surveys tonight? >> Yes. I just I did the the capital just
because it was more timely with that. And >> if you want to give an update on the stock. >> Yeah. So, we did receive the just want we did receive our Stockton Beach report uh that kind of summarized uh the end of the year. I don't think there was any real big surprises in
there. Um, most of the beaches all lost a little bit of sand. Obviously, a lot of the sand that we've lost, you don't really see because it's actually below the high tide line. So, it's in the outshore area, but you know, overall we did lose around, I think, 75,000 cubic
yards of sand total across the whole beach, which isn't I mean, it's hard to say it's it's not compared to some of our other beaches to the to the north of us. This is relatively minor in comparison
to the losses that they've experienced. So, you know, we we've fared fairly well over the last year in overall beach sand loss, but but still, nonetheless, we we lost quite a bit of sand. >> And manager, um these are only the surveyed beaches that they do. So,
that's not >> it's a it's a real it's a real gross estimation on the beach because obviously, you know, if you if you took the spacings that like that the Army Corps does for nourishment, they take them much more frequently. So you get a
much more >> accurate loss. So yeah, it's a a gross estimate of generally how the beaches are looking. >> So looking directionally as to the loss. Yes. As opposed to exact. Okay. Good. >> All right. Thank you. >> City solicitor. Do you have any?
>> I don't have anything tonight. Thank you. >> City Council, any old business at this time? >> No. >> No. >> Okay. I'll just note I believe Mayor Mullik might have excused himself for the rest of the meeting. Um >> I will let you know if that changes. It
was at 5:38 p.m. >> Thank you, Eron. >> All right. So, if we're done with updates in old business council, let's go back to ordinances for second reading and consideration for adoption. >> We have 589-2026, an ordinance confirming the appointment
authority for the Shade Tree Commission. And there is a public hearing this evening. Um, if anybody would like to speak on ordinance 589, please come on up to the podium. >> Anyone from the public wishing to speak on 589?
No. Okay. All right. Do we have a motion to adopt? >> I'll make that motion. >> We have a second. >> I'll second. Any discussion, council? >> All right. Council member Meyer. >> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor McDade. >> Yes. >> Council member Bodner.
>> Yes. >> Council member Baldwin. >> Yes. All right, we have 590-2026, an ordinance amending section 482, the city code to update the policies and procedures for the protection of trees in the city of Kate May. There is also a public hearing this evening if there is
anybody wishing to speak on ordinance 590, please come on up. Anyone wishing to speak? No. Okay. Thank you. >> Seeing none, do we have a motion to adopt 590? >> I move that motion.
>> We have a second. Okay. >> Discussion. Council. Okay. >> Council member Meyer. >> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor McDeade. >> Yes. >> Council member Bodner. >> Yes. >> Council member Baldman. >> Yes. >> Okay. Moving on. We have the public
portion on resolutions only. So, anybody wishing to comment on the resolutions? Anything on the consent agenda, please come on forward at this time. Anyone from the public wishing to speak on resolutions only or anything on the consent agenda?
Seeing none. Okay. Council, is there anything you'd like to remove from the consent agenda this evening? >> Deputy mayor, if I could just make a point. Um, >> on the agenda under reports is the manager's monthly departmental report. Yes, sir. >> I just for the public's uh edification,
I just want to everybody be aware. Um, no longer you're going to see individual departments like the police report, the fire report or, you know, individual departmental reports. I'm going to be each month compiling uh the previous month's reports and then submitting them as a month report usually on the second
meeting of the of the month. So, just so the public's looking at like, oh, I didn't see the police report for for last month, >> right? >> I'm incorporating all of those types of reports summaries into managers monthly report included there. And if you have not had a chance to take a look at it,
it is included in the council packet. It has a wealth of information. So I encourage you to take a look at this. U Mr. Dietrich and Mr. Riggs have put this together and um it's extremely comprehensive about across all city departments, very detailed. Um and
certainly I think I can speak for council and the mayor. We found it to be very informative. Um and really applaud him for the efforts that they've undertaken. This is, you know, quite a bit of work that each of the departments has to submit and then they go through it and make sure that they can compile it. Um, and he, Mr. Dietrich has
indicated that he intends to have this every month in our council packet, which we welcome and also to expand upon it in the future. So, please I encourage the public to take a look at this. It's uh got some really good information uh across all of the departments in the city. Thank you, Mr. Dietrich. Thank
you, Mr. Riggs. >> Thank you. >> Okay. If there's nothing to remove from the consent agenda, do we have a motion to adopt the consent agenda? >> I'll make the motion. >> I'll second. >> Council member Meyer, >> yes.
>> Deputy Mayor McDeade, >> yes. >> Council member Bodner, >> yes. >> Council member Baldwin, >> yes. >> Okay, moving on to new business. >> Um, city solicitor, is there any new business for this evening? >> Nothing tonight. Thank you. >> Okay, city manager,
>> I do have a couple things. Yes. Okay. Uh first thing, um I have a resident on Washington Street, um that is requesting, um the city to look at doing a request for a street opening to he's looking to
convert from oil to gas. Um however, as you can recall, the the city has a requirement for a moratorum of a street opening for 5 years. Um and uh obviously Washington Street was just paved a year and a half ago now. Um so there it's
under it. Um the in order to wave that requirement would have to have the approval of city council based on a recommendation from the public works director and myself. Um and and I would like to entertain make a recommendation
if council is so inclined to to do this. However, to do one caveat and and I've done this in other municipalities where um under a normal repaving and repair, they just put hot asphalt, cut it, put asphalt back, and maybe just put a
little seal coat around the edges and then it looks like a patch forever. However, the asphalt companies have a a a newer, brighter technology in asphalt repair where it's called inf inferred um asphalt repair where essentially they'll
put the that patch in, let it sit for 6 months and then they come back and it's essentially almost looks like a 10x10 propane heater. looks and they just heat up both the old asphalt and the new asphalt and then they rake it and they
blend it all in and then they reroll it and essentially when you come back you really almost can't tell that they've had the repair. Um so it allows you to do repairs in streets that are less than 5 years old. Um with this I call it like it's an enhanced repair method or
process. Um several towns both in Cape May and and the state of New Jersey use this method. Some use it as their regular asphalt, you know, road repair, but a lot of them will use it in an emergency repair where they've had a newly paved street and they come back
and do this. It's also a method that we really use where if you have a small little if you've just paved the street and you have a small little puddle and you're trying to get rid of it or you have to patch in something to get rid of a puddle, that's what they do to kind of heat up the old asphalt and then they rake it in and then you can blend new
asphalt into it and kind of make get rid of um little bird bass and and ponding, but they've extended it to kind of using it for road repair. So, um I'd ask if if council's so inclined to um possibly look at doing this repair method and and
and almost you could say maybe this is a test case to see how it works here to see if it is something that you would entertain in the future just to see how it works. >> Mr. Dietrich, um so a couple things come to mind. Who who pays for all of that?
>> So, so they go through the normal process. I mean, ultimately the homeowner pays for it. Obviously, who's making the who's making the road opening request is actually South Jersey Gas because they're the ones that are actually going to be doing the the opening. But this enhanced repair will
most cost will most likely be passed back on to the homeowner and and and the city maintains, you know, for all our projects maintenance bonds for, you know, if if contract, >> but you would make it a stipulation that you would want this particular methodology used in order to um approve.
>> That would be the condition of the permit that they would have to use this enhanced method um for for repairing. Now, I envisioned that there could be other homeowners that might come forth in areas that they would like to convert to gas and they're under the same
moratoriums for other streets that have been worked on. Is this something that while we could use this as a test case, is this something that we should, you know, be exploring as to what the rules and regulations might be in the future? uh rather than doing these as
individual council considerations, making it more >> I I would say if if the council if if we did this as a test case and you saw that that it meets meets the satisfaction of a quality that you're saying okay this is something we can look forward to. I
would recommend that we make this part of the ordinance procedure so that >> okay >> you know you have that exception under the moratorium says okay if you don't want to wait the five years and you want to do this enhanced method then this is what you have to do and that's what I I would make that recommendation but I felt it was this would be a good way to
maybe test it out as opposed to because then you can kind of see how it does before introducing an ordinance. Um >> yes certainly >> because then you only have one patch out there as opposed to >> Right. So I would ask that and uh Councilwoman Baldman has a question but just before that so I don't lose my
train. Um I would like to have pictures of the conditions now >> uh then the interim conditions and then the final conditions um so that we could look at it >> photo document the whole >> yeah to document the entire process. So, Councilwoman, >> I do. Well, since it's currently
codified, um, that would have to come up as a resolution for us to approve. Um, would that be at our next meeting? >> That would be on your next meeting for a consent agenda to to authorize that. >> Okay. Um, just if we can get some information on, you know, on the process
maybe and and I know, um, Deputy Mayor McDade said, you know, like kind of before and after, >> just a little bit more information. I don't know if I have to I'll have to do some research on see if I can get >> or ask South Jersey guest to provide >> I can assist you with that too. We've had this come up before council. We've
had some of these hardship requests come before council and we we can speak after the meeting if you'd like and we can I can help prepare something for the next meeting because there's fees and whatnot associated with it as well. >> But no, they're talking they want they want to see the technology of how the repair work is done. >> Oh, I'm sorry. I thought you were asking
for more information on the actual request. No, no, that's going to have to be at a >> that will also have to be a >> resolution at the next meeting as a resolution, but I'd like to understand the sort of the technology. >> So, so we'll prepare the resolution, but also along with that, I can I'll I'll do it when um Mr. Delasio came and we
looked at the technology that was be able to investigate lead pipes, which we never knew about. So, you know, if there's something out there that is not going to, uh, disrupt the work that's been done in the street, uh, while being able to provide, you know, allowing for homeowners to make these changes, um, as
long as the conditions are met, um, and we have, you know, something that we're satisfied with, I think it's well worth taking a look at. >> I I'll work on that, okay, for next meeting. >> It makes me think of a u like a brochure that you see at the League of Miss Bounties, you know, this methodology >> different. Yeah.
>> Yeah. and that they do have it there changes. Okay, they're there. >> All right, so we'll we'll look forward to that information coming back to us. Thank you to review. >> Um the next I just wanted to follow up on uh Captain Bobick's um resolution and just to it's going to be 3:30 on Friday,
February 27th, if anybody's interested in joining us and walking the captain out. Um but then the really to follow up on that on that Monday, March 2nd at 3:30 here in um council uh auditorium, um there's going to be the swearing in
uh of our our new captain, a lieutenant, and two sergeants. So a larger turnover of uh police swearing in. So if if anybody if you could just put that on your schedule and if you're available, um I I'll send out a um an email to
everybody. But I just wanted to >> What time on the second? >> Uh 3:30. >> Okay. On both of them are at 3:30 then. >> Both of them are 3:30. >> Okay. Thank you. >> So Friday. >> Mhm. >> Monday. >> And Monday. >> Oh, this. Yep. Okay. Thank you. >> Right here. Thank you. That's all I had.
Thank you. >> Yeah. A lot going on there, Mr. Um Thank you, Mr. Dietrich. Um city clerk, do you have anything this? >> Yes. Two items this evening. Um, you'll notice this was on the website, but I wanted to highlight it. Um, for
resolution 119, um, council has amended their previously scheduled council meeting. Um, it was scheduled for April 7th. Instead of having that meeting, the first meeting in April, there's an extra Tuesday in March. So, council will actually be meeting on March 31st,
Tuesday, March 31st at 5:00 p.m. rather than during spring break when there's a lot of kids out of school and people traveling. So there will there will be three meetings in March >> and one meeting in April. We've done it like once before. Um >> and of course that's going to be published and and posted everywhere. I
just wanted to highlight that tonight for those present. >> Um and secondly is more just a heads up and I can go into more detail you know in the future if there are questions. There was um some changes to regulations
regarding public noticing um that were put into uh well they're not into they were adopted last year where um instead of publishing in the paper we must publish to our website as of March 1st. So starting March 1st um we have a
public notices page clearly um present on our website right under like codebook liveream the icons in yellow it'll say public notices and as of March 1st we will start be we will start to publish all of our legal notices to that portion of our website no longer in the paper.
There may be certain notices we still publish in the paper. We're still navigating it. There's still some question marks in the law for us. Um, but just know that and we'll we'll kind of remind everybody I've been post I've been publishing in the paper twice a month as per law for the remainder of the year with a direct hyperlink to the
public notices site um on our website. The state has to create their own web page with every single municipality's um hyperlinks to their public notices. I don't believe they've done that yet. Um so we're ahead of the state to no one's surprise. Um, so just as of March 1st,
um, just know that we will be posting to the website, no longer publishing in the paper unless for some reason we have to. >> Erin, just because it might come up from a public question, what about application applicants notices to the planning board or zoning board? Would
they be able to send the city and have the city post their notices on a website or do they still >> No, they have to publish in an online paper. There's certain special rules for municipalities versus members of the public and you know that's entering into legal territory. >> I just wanted to make I just wanted
>> yeah we can't post on behalf of anybody else. This is specifically city notices legal notices. This is for purposes of here's a special meeting or here's our annual meeting list or >> going out to bid for this >> going to bid um notice of of decisions
from planning board or zoning board >> notices that the city or city boards put out >> applicants for like a municipal land use application planning board or zoning board they they will have to do their own noticing through an online publication and they will still have to
do certified mailings just like they did before to the 200 foot list. So, it's not like electronic notice. >> Um, that is still snail mail certified mailing and then the applicant will have to do their own electronic notice. Um,
but we were on the same wavelength there just so >> and we'll have some more information. I'm sure we're going to have to tweak it here and there, but the the bones are there on on the website and we'll start posting there >> as of March 1st. >> All right. Thank you very much. >> And that's it for me, council. Thank you.
>> Thank you. Um, council. Um, Mr. Meyer, any comments this evening? >> No, deputy mayor. >> Thank you. Um, Councilman Bodner, >> nothing tonight. Thank you. >> Councilwoman Baldwin, >> I'm sorry. Usually I say no, but um Oh, okay. We we
>> we have a lot going on on the HPC. Um, we have uh the awards banquet that we're going to hold on May the 13th. We had three jurors uh very um wellknown state in the state jurors that came in. Steve
Smallen who did our um HBC uh our new standards. Dorothy uh Guzo, she was a head of uh Shipo um head of New Jersey Trust um 35 years experience. And then Joan Berkeley, she's an architectural historian. Um she published books about
Kate May County. Uh 40 years experience. So, we had some really great judges come in to judge the um the different uh categories that we have. We have we have five categories of um uh of awards that are going to be presented at that time.
Um but this kind of leads up to the public's information here. Uh there are two awards that we want the public to be involved in and that's the stewardship and leadership award. Those both of the applications are available on our city website. we have another month um be
we'll still be accepting applications for another month but um it's a not a daunting application process. You would have to get in touch with the person who you would be uh nominating and um fill out the application and send it in to
our HPC um secretary. So, um, please get involved and, um, hopefully look forward to seeing everybody on, uh, you know, during our awards banquet and thank you, Kevin, for all of your work on that, too. Part of the HBC in the audience.
>> Sounds very exciting. >> Yeah. Thank you. You're welcome. Thank you. >> So, now that we've concluded council comments, uh, we'll open it up to the public. Anyone uh from the public wishing to comment, please come forward.
Uh name and address. >> Stacy Sheen, 928 Columbia Avenue. Um I just have one clarifying question. When you'll be putting the information on the city website, what is the time frame that it has to be on the website before meetings? Is there a certain time frame?
>> I'm going to have to follow all the same existing laws. It's just instead of anything going in the paper, I can put it on the website. But so it still has like a week beforehand or things like that or dated. >> So 48 hours. >> Yeah, it's just 48 hours for agenda. We
get it up, you know, before then. Um but yeah, so all the same rules that we're currently following, it's going to I mean I'm not everything meeting wise is going to still be posted in the same meeting area. This is just >> public hearing. You know, this was in
this ordinance was introduced on this date and considered for public hearing. anything that I would publish in the paper is now going to be published to the website. Um, it needs to stay up there unless there's a some other rule that I need to follow for like 7 days and then we have to archive it for a
year and then we can get rid of it. >> Okay. So, it's not 48 hours, it's like 7 days or or whatever it is like like when the ordinance would be like what is it four weeks beforehand or something? What the first reading the second? >> So, yeah. Any any publication. So, like
for example, I have to there has to be at least 10 days between um the publication for like a zoning ordinance before second reading. Like I'm still going to have to follow all of those rules. >> Okay. >> Just I'm going to post it to the website instead of the paper. >> And I guess it'll be you'll put in the
date when you put it on there. >> Correct. >> That'll be in the notice. And we're still working out >> specifics as far as affidavit. Like I'll be doing my own affidavit of publication. Usually we did a tear sheet from the the newspaper. The state hasn't really given us guidance on how we're
going to do that. So we're just we're going to whatever direction I get, I will implement, but it's going to be as crystal clear as we can be. >> Okay. Um my other question has to do with the road opening. And I know we had one person came here before, you know, talked to council that how they wanted
to do it. And once they found there was a cost involved, all of a sudden they didn't want to do it anymore. Um, so I think it's it's nice that you're telling people up front this is what it's going to be and this is the cost. But at the same time, I know the city has opened up roads right after they've been paved. Maybe they should look at that same
technology because I know on Columbia Avenue it was paved within 3 months they were opening it up and now there's a gully where it was opened up from the city opening it up. And then my other thing, um, oh, any any more information on the
Jacob Jones that they're going to be coming by and doing any kind of presentation? >> I know they've been working on it and I I believe that they've are waiting till a little bit further into the spring to come back and make a presentation both publicly and here at
council. Uh cuz I think they were not wanting to be here in January or February when nobody's around. >> And I I think they they're I think they're going to I think they're going to try to come back maybe in April and
do a presentation there so that maybe more people around and are available to make public comment. >> Yeah. Just so we can know ahead of time so that people can be aware of it's going to be around them. Um, my last question I think Paul, this is for you. With that Bank Street retaining wall, is
there any kind of permits that we're going to need in order to do that? >> Yes, we we're going to need a caffer permit to do that. Uh, probably freshwater wetlands permits, waterfront development permit, probably those three. Um, that's part of what I
need. You know, the engineers started to do some work, but I ran out of funds to let him continue. So, um, I need the these funds to hire a surveyor to locate the wet because they flagged all the wetlands. So, now I have to locate those wetlands so they can put them on a plan
and and then they have to start looking at, okay, what are the jurisdictional determination limits of what permits do they actually need, but I'm pretty sure those they might not need the CAFRA individual permit. There might be some general permits that they need, but that's once
they locate in relationship to where they're going to be able to put the line the this bulkhead wall and the wetlands line, that'll kind of define what permits they ultimately need. And then they will then we'll come back to the council with a plan showing, okay, this is where we approximately going to need.
This is how high it's going to be, and can we make the application to the D for the permit? And and you don't see any um shortcomings with building this wall with flooding uh upstream neighbors or even Westgate May neighbors?
>> No. No. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Jules Rous 1010 New York Avenue. Just to follow up on that that Bank Street. Um has have we asked for or is it ever
required to get an indication from DP whether they give you a conceptual approval of the project or do they just wait for the application? >> No. So there is a process that you can meet. It's called a JCP meeting. um and that what but you can't have that
meeting until you've got a plan to kind of show them and say hey I kind of want to build this here because they need to to know what kind of impacts to the environment are going to be. So once we have this first initial plan, >> then that's when we'll reach out to the
D and and h start having that conversation just like we do on all of our projects that we do. You don't want to I don't want to spend all the money on design if they're going to say go in that direction, not that direction.
>> That was my point, Paul. Thank you. um with the del plan. >> Uh has Westgate May approved what we're doing and has the EP required that Westcape May approve it?
>> Kind of two part question. >> No. >> No. Why? The DP does not they're not really they didn't ask us hey did we ask our customers can we build it? That's that's a decision for the city to make the process. The D
doesn't get involved in that question. >> Okay. But has Westgate May approved it or don't they don't they don't they need to approve it? They have we have a provision in our agreement that has a bulk water rate and
a del rate that would c you know cause into question if we make capital improvements that there's a del rate that would apply to capital improvements. Once we have our final design and cost model, we'll be not only
we'll be reaching out to our city residents first and then we'll be make a presentation to all of our bulk users on how the our capital improvements would affect their rates. >> So, it will go to the Coast Guard as well. It was my
>> We will be we'll be notifying them of what we would anticipate uh increase rate based on their capital cost for the detail plant. Yes. Okay, just and and one small comment you may uh one of our one of our TPA members
uh cornered me this past weekend and asked me about the the height of the seaw wall on Beach Avenue between uh Howard and Queen. Um if you drive down there, you may recognize why somebody would ask that
question if they lived across the street. I my only comment on passing that on from a resident owner. Good evening, council. Uh Peter Cole, 1075 Michigan Avenue. Also the president
of the Taxpayers Association of Cape May. I just want to say there will be a meeting of the TPA this Thursday evening at 5:00 pm here in the city hall. Thank you. >> Anyone else from the public wishing to speak?
If not, um do I have a motion to adjurnn? >> Okay, >> time is 608. Time is >> Thank you everyone.