call to order. This is the uh special meeting of the city council of Kate May and Kate May City Hall auditorium. Today is Tuesday, July 21st. The time is 2:09. 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. 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 and posted on the Kate May 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. The 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 is absent. City solicitor Gillan Schwarz >> here. >> City Manager Dietrich >> here. >> Deputy Manager Rakes >> here. >> All right, council. We have one resolution this evening. It's resolution 272-07206. A resolution providing for a meeting not
open to the public in accordance with provisions of the New Jersey Open Public Meetings Act NJSA-4-12 shared services agreement for uniform construction code services with the burrow of West Kate May and Cape May Housing Authority discussion if I could get a motion.
>> I'll make the motion. >> I'll second. Do we have an addition to this or this >> this is the addition? Okay. >> All right. Council member Meyer. Yes. >> Deputy Mayor McDade. >> Yes. >> Council member Bonder. >> Yes. >> Council member Baldwin.
>> Yes. >> Is there anyone from the public wishing to speak? >> No. Okay. Seeing no one, we'll close uh session and go into close session. The time is 2:10. Thank you. Okay, good afternoon everyone. We before
we begin our regular meeting, we're going to close out our uh close session and we do plan on taking action. Is that right? Or we we do not >> no no action this evening. We may at the first meeting in August. Yeah. Yeah.
>> There may be consideration of the UCCC agreement at that time. >> Thank you. Do I have a motion to close the uh executive session? I'll make the motion. >> Do I have a second? >> I'll second. >> Okay. With that, we can open up our regular meeting of the city council of the city of Cape May. We are here in the
Cape May city hall auditorium. Today is Tuesday, July 21st, 2026. Time is 3 p.m. Please join me for the pledge of allegiance. Ice 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. >> Thank you. 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 this agenda
was delivered to each member of city council and posted on the Kate May city website and Kate May city hall bulletin board. Notice is hereby provided that Kate May city council meetings are audio recorded and video streamed live. Live video streams are posted to the Kate May city website. The 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. >> City solicitor Gillan Schwarz >> here.
>> City Manager Dietrich >> here. >> Deputy Manager Riggs >> here. >> All right, council. I do believe we have one addition this evening. It'll be resolution 289-07-2026. A resolution authorizing acknowledgement between the city of Cape May and CWA
local 1036 to confirm recognition of title within the CWA white collar bargaining unit. If we have a motion to add. >> Do I have a motion? >> Do I have a second? >> I'll second. >> Okay. >> Council member Meyer. >> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor McDade.
>> Yes. >> Council member Bodner. >> Yes. >> Council member Baldwin. >> Yes. >> Mayor Mullik. >> Yes. >> Thank you. >> Okay. With that, we'll go right into our uh updates and old business. City manager, water plant update.
>> Yeah, just any other updates? >> Yeah, I'll start with the water plant update. Um I I we've been I guess this was right before Memorial Day weekend, I think maybe week before then. Uh one of the booster pumps at the water treatment plant went down on us and you know, that was kind of our
backup uh pump. Uh you know, knock on wood, we've been running well with the other two. They've been fine, but we needed to get that uh one replaced. We've been going through a very exhaustive search to find a replacement. Uh the manufacturer hasn't been really
responding back to us. I was able to finally get a quote from a manufacturer uh pump supplier to to find a different pump supplier to uh come in and replace the pump. So, we're uh going through that final procurement process, but um
just we you may see at an upcoming agenda for an emergency resolution just authorizing that emergency purchase uh because obviously it's was just over $91,000. So, we're not following all of our, you know, that would really require to go out to bid, but we're not
following traditional procurement. We're doing uh under the emergency uh procurement process. So, I just wanted to kind of alert council that we are doing that for that pump. Um, it's a 5 to seven week lead time and uh they're coming out to take some final measurements before we actually order
it, but we're hoping to be able to order it at the end of this week month at next Monday at the latest uh to get that uh new pump on order. Um, and then I just wanted to update, you know, I did have the full monthly managers report, so take a look at a lot of things. Uh just
to highlight uh from from our CFO, you know, our expenditures are are right in line. You know, there's no nothing that's really jumping out as we're through the halfway point of the year from expenditure standpoint. So, we're right in line and don't really see any
uh problems coming forward. And she also just reported me today we got our final tally of our say first half of the year uh occupancy tax and we're up around $54,000 for the through the first six months on
our occupancy tax revenue. Um there was a kind of if you looked at some of the monthlies there was some weird monthly data reporting but I think a lot of that is just the way that the state collects it and reports it back to us and probably how some of the hotels report to them kind of a thing. So, um, but as
you look at a six-month, we're we're up around 54,000 in occupancy tax for the first first half of the year. And that's all I had. >> Okay. City solicitor, any updates or old business? >> Nothing tonight. Thank you. >> City Council, >> nothing. >> Nothing. Okay. >> No, mayor.
>> All right. On to a public portion on resolutions today. Anyone wishing to speak on resolutions, please come to the microphone, state your name and address for the record. Jules Rous 1010 New York Avenue. I'd
just like to add to 273 the uh super job that post 386 which is the VFW in Kate May. What a great job they do and that's part of that same resolution.
>> Thank you Mr. Rous. I'm I'm sure we all agree and and they really do. Uh any anything else on resolutions this evening or this afternoon? Okay, seeing none, we can close public comment and move to the consent agenda. >> Yes, council. Is there anything you wish
to remove from the consent agenda? >> Anything, council? >> Can I have 281 removed, please? >> Sure. >> Thank you. >> Anything else, council? >> Anything else? >> No. Okay. >> All right. We'll take a motion to adopt the consent agenda. >> Do I have a motion?
>> I'll make the motion. >> Do I have a second? I'll second. Roll call. >> Council member Meyer, >> yes. >> Deputy Mayor McDade, >> yes. >> Council member Bodner, >> yes. >> Council member Baldwin, >> yes. >> Mayor Mullik, >> yes. >> All right, back to resolution 281-07206.
A resolution authorizing professional services contract with Robbie J. Connley, AIA, for resol for alterations and improvements to Kate May Convention Hall and Beach Tag Center. >> Do I have a motion? >> I make a motion. >> Do I have a second? I'll second. Any
questions or comments, council? >> So, when I looked at this, um I was thinking back when we well when we have concerts on the beach and I'm wondering, can we also incorporate into this um something where where that back wall is
going to be opened up? Um maybe either stairs going down or some way that we could take the railings down as part of his contract to do this so we can um have events on the beach. So, so part of what he'll be looking at is on the because there's structural framing
that's part of that I'll say that window bank in the back. So, we will be looking at I'll say taking out I'll say the the lower level of windows and looking at according them out and creating an open space out onto the deck. that was part of what we were going to be looking at
as proposal and also maybe looking at an opaque screen so that you know because a lot of times we've had if you recall I think it was Veterans Day when we had that in there last year we kind of had we really needed to close the curtains but because the glare was so coming in so looking at some anti-glare so that we
could still see out and enjoy the view but you know not have that sun glare come in but beyond that that's the extent of what we were looking at as far as that if if if if you think that we want to do more. >> I I would agree to take at least take a look at it since Robbie's going to be
looking. Are the are the the doors envisioned to be sort of like those accordion style doors or just more >> or the ones that kind of sliders that reach. Yeah. Yeah. Sl Yeah. Not I don't think they would accordion, but the slider ones that would stack in >> on each other. >> Okay. Well, I think we should just take
a look at the you know, I would agree if there's a way to be able to create some kind of a entrance way from to the beach centrally down there. >> Um >> that that would not be Robbie. That would probably we'd have to look at engineering to do permitting because
that's that would require a D permit. So if that wouldn't be a Robbie thing, that would be one of our project engineers to look at getting a caffer permit to um extend out onto the beach for for stairs. Obviously, we could always do temporary stairs. That wouldn't be a problem. But
if we if you're looking at something more permanent and we'd also have to look at the impact to the beach, Beachville project, >> the the experience if you're sitting on the beach and there's a beach concert, >> um making that experience because when we looked at it originally, I there was
one event that was going on a couple years ago there. We actually went and looked to see if we could take some of the railings down >> and um I think some of those railings could come down, but you also have to look at safety issues and I'm not sure that's all gonna work. >> So we we do a beach, you know, so they do a concert we do a concert on the
Friday Memorial Day weekend and we do a concert from there down um onto the beach. Um so we do do a concert that's from the deck. >> It doesn't seem like it's as open and inviting. It's it's a different experience. I'm just talking about the experience. So, and maybe doing
something that you can take it down temporarily during those. It doesn't have to be >> per lower a lower something. I'm not sure. >> I'll have a discussion with with Mr. Connley to see if there's some, you know, something that can be done. May also have a discussion with the
construction official to see what we can and can't do >> on a temporary basis or, you know, something like that. We But we can add that and look at that as part of the scope. Yes. >> As part of his scope. Take a look at that. >> Yeah. anything that's up there may be something that can be >> We'll take a look. >> Yeah. Okay. That that was the only
reason I pulled that. >> Just to add a little comment to it. Um and that uh um Councilwoman Baldwin, I know you worked on some of the lighting that I don't if anyone hasn't seen the lighting in convention hall lately. It really
turned out great. >> Um >> it's not done yet even. So >> in the heat. >> Yeah. It's so much better. I mean it just uh four concerts the sound the lighting really has been upgraded. Um but so first off compliments on on those
um improvements but secondly just to remind everyone we have a beautiful building up there. Some some say not perfectly beautiful but paid off completely. You know that no debt to taxpayers. Um, and you the taxpayer own
that building and it's I think 11 or 12 years now. >> Probably is. Yeah, that sounds about right. >> Something like that. And so looking at some minor upgrades to I think beautify the building a little bit, but also I love the idea of better being able to
utilize, you know, beach concert, you know, with off the back of the building or whatever. I think just sounds it really is a strategic advantage of our convention hall over other convention halls in other cities. It may not be the biggest, but I do think it's one of the
most beautiful, you know, scenic areas that if we better utilize that building to be able to see what exist. I remember one time during COVID, I took a Zoom call and behind me was the beach and literally you could see the dolphins
that were jumping. Well, that's the great thing about doing the classes up on the prominade, which I participate in. It's because you're you're standing on the deck, you're exercising, you're looking out, it's gorgeous, and then here comes the school of dolphins by, you know. So, yeah, it is it's nice.
>> So, I think it's a really worthy cause to look at and and uh see what we can come up with. Um, okay. And now I lost my train of thought. Where are we at here? We are >> Oh, we we have a motion. We have a second. Any other uh comments or
questions? Council, >> roll call. >> Council member Meyer, >> yes. >> Deputy Mayor McDade, >> yes. >> Council member Bodner, >> yes. >> Council member Baldwin, >> yes. >> Mayor Mullik, >> yes. >> All right. And we have resolution 28907206.
Resolution authorizing acknowledgement between the city of Cape May and C.WA local 1036 to confirm recognition of title within the CWA white collar bargaining unit. >> Do I have a motion? Um I'll make the motion. >> Do I have a second? >> I'll second. [clears throat]
>> Questions or comments, council? >> Mayor, >> um just just for the record, uh because I know this wasn't available to the public, that's um recognizing the title of assistant tax collector in the bargaining unit as a salary range seven, which is equivalent to the uh deputy um
court administrator salary. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Uh any other questions or comments? Roll call. >> Council member Meyer. >> Yes. Yes. Deputy Mayor McDade. >> Yes. >> Council member Bodner, >> yes. >> Council member Baldwin, >> yes. >> Mayor Mullik, >> yes.
>> On to new business. Uh, city solicitor. Any new business? >> Nothing tonight. Thank you. >> City manager, any new business? >> Um, I guess I could have brought this up at close session, but just I just wanted to um uh recognize that all of the uh
memorial plaques that renewed have been put out on the prominade. Um, public works did a great job. And I just want to just do a a shout out to uh uh Casey and Britney Roach over at the uh uh
recreation civic affairs uh for just doing a yman's job of coordinating that project and uh obviously Eric uh and the public works team of getting them all out there really quick and and taking care of that. and uh and obviously
Deputy Mayor McDade for forging through and tackling uh probably one of the most unlike jobs that you could have to deal with all those residents. >> Um you know through phase one and phase two of that project >> phase one and phase two.
>> So uh you know we finally have them all out there and um you know we're going to move on to the next phase. So, but I just wanted to let everybody, you know, let council know everybody that asked to be renewed. I think there's So, there's 12 that aren't out there that were
renewed because obviously through the process, people's phone numbers got lost and stuff like that. But as people were down during the summer like, "Oh, where's my bench?" And then they contacted us. We worked with them really quickly. And so, there's kind of 12 more that we still have to do a final coordination on. But, um, you know, I'm
pleased. >> Out of four close to 400. That's pretty remarkable. Yes. And I think um if the count was right, Casey said there might have been about 20% that didn't renew. >> Right. >> And so those are will be made available to all the people that were on the wait list. >> Correct. Yeah. We're actually starting
to look through that weight list and be able to we'll be contacting the people on the wait list and uh you know we'll move through those and you know they'll probably most likely if those people respond they'll be put out their plaques will be available for the start of the
next summer season. That's great. Anything else, city manager? >> No, that was all I appreciate. >> City clerk. >> All right. So, there will be a council meeting matinea on August 4th through the national night out. So, the meeting festivities will begin at 1:00 p.m. as
opposed to 3. That'll be on our August 4th at 1:00. Uh following the August 4th council meeting, you won't want to miss National Night Out. Join KMA's finest on Beach A in front of Convention Hall for a fun-filled evening with our local first responders. Lace up your sneaks
for beach games and bounce houses. Then jump on over to grab yourself some pizza, hot dogs, candy, and more. So, we want to make it so your kids don't sleep that night. So, give them bring them over to get some candy. Um, and don't disappear before 7:00 p.m. or you'll miss the magic show taking place from
7:00 to 8:30. And new this year, immediately following National Night Out, there will be a drone show. So, it's going to be an action-packed night out with your community, and we'd like to encourage everyone to come out and hang out with the people that make a difference in and around the city of Kate May. Uh, next, grab your pacifiers,
pack up the Gerber, and crawl on down to Beach A for Kate May annual baby parade taking place on July 31st at 11:00 a.m. Registration will take place at the corner of Congress and Beach at 10:00. So, turn out to support the best babies
on the beach. I wrote that. Um, finally, [laughter] we are expecting some severe weather this afternoon, and it's a good time to remind everyone about Nixl, which the city will use via the police department to inform the public about severe weather and watches. Um, you'll
be on cloud9 as you're seeking shelter before everyone else. So, go to our website, km city.com, to get yourself signed up. Um, and I did have a thunderstorm joke that would blow you away. Um, but I'm not going to say it. So, that is all I have. Thank you. I
please nominate him to do this announcements on the prominade. [applause] >> I think I think he should be >> Yeah. >> part of the rotation. >> Absolutely. I We'd love to hear those announcements on the prominade replayed with Brian.
>> Better. We're just going to have to ask Erin to take a few more meeting nights off, I guess, once in a while. [laughter] >> All right. C >> Councilwoman Baldwin I I just have one thing to say because a lot of our neighbors on the 900 block of
Washington Street, Lafayette Street between Queen and Madison last year for quite a few years, we were seeing a lot of lantern flies. >> And on our bill list, we just had that tree of heaven taken down on the 900 block of Lafayette Street. And thank you
to uh Councilman Meyer and the Shade Tree Commission, the grant that you received, you know, along with the um >> along with the uh manager. But um the lantern flies are almost non-existent after that tree came down. Um it was an
expensive tree. It was a large tree, probably 75 plus foot >> um high, but I mean it was it everybody on our block were like, "Wait a minute, something's different." And they're Yeah. So, a lot of thanks to you. >> Yeah, >> that's great. Good job, Mr. Meyer.
That's great. >> Uh, Councilman Bodner. >> Uh, nothing tonight, Mayor. Thank you, >> Deputy Mayor. >> Uh, nothing tonight, Mayor. Thank you, >> Councilman Meyer. >> Thank you, Mayor. [clears throat] Uh, and thank you, uh, Council Member Baldwin, about those comments. Uh, we took down three trees in that area, believe it or not.
>> And, um, and they grow so fast, those trees. But, uh, we still have a little bit of issue over there. It was ground zero at one time, but uh we have some small seedlings coming up and we're looking at nipping at the bud. I just spoke to Paul about that this uh afternoon. So, thank you so much. Uh the
only other thing I want to bring up today is that uh last week I got to see the triathlon at the at the lifeguard headquarters and it was our very own Zeb Hanker who won first place. I was lucky enough to uh tag along with uh Lieutenant DJ Dra and his car or his one
of our Jeeps and uh and Zeb was way ahead. Way ahead. And not only that, he did a um an Iron Man competition where he was now invited to the National Championships for Iron Man in Nice, France this uh this fall. >> That's awesome. >> So uh
>> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So look for the GoFundMe. you know, he can use all the support he can get and uh I'm just very happy that he's one of our lifeguards, you know, something to be proud of that >> someone's kind of representing our area nationally. >> It's amazing. >> Or internationally, excuse me. >> Yeah. Amazing. That Thank you, Mr.
Meyer. I I I completely agree. I witnessed that. He blew everybody away, which was a lot of fun to watch. Um but uh he, as you said, t go check out the um GoFundMe page. He's he's one of Kate May's own, and he's uh really remarkable. Um and and and on that uh to
all of our lifeguards who were sitting on the stands during this uh smoky weather and 100 degrees, uh we thank you and I know that they had a couple rescues, you know, not even in the water, uh you know, with this heat um helping out along the beach and and on
the beach front. So, um thank thank you very much. Um, with that we'll open it up for public comment. Stacy Sheen, 928 Columbia Avenue. Um, my first question to council is there's been a lot of things online and I I'm asking this question because of the
questions that are being raised online. And one has to do with sanctuary city. Is the city a sanctuary city? Are you planning on making it sanctuary city? discussed >> hasn't really crossed my mind. >> So, so it's not one right now. Okay, I'm just bring this up because it seems to
be a lot of chatter online. >> I got >> um my next question has to do with um is where is the city at in looking at putting a marina down by the yach club?
>> Not I think it's only been talked about maybe in the public or lightly amongst ourselves. You know, I think it's still a fever dream at this point. >> Well, I think the um yach club has been notified about and bought into the talk. That's why I was bringing it up.
>> Not not nothing official. Just no more than Hey, I I mean I I've asked different people because I know that there's been plans banded about in years past about a marina. I just was I've asked about trying to see what they look like just to see hey what was ever
proposed out there but I don't beyond that I don't think any >> because it's my understanding that the reason why they didn't do the marine is because they allowed that division that subdivision to go there. >> What subm there's no subdivision >> right right there it was going to be >> no no right
off of Pittsburgh that develop >> the was it called Harbor View. Yeah. >> Or that that development in there or whatever. At one time they were looking at putting a marina that and they it was shot down for just for that >> for them to put those houses. >> You mean Harbor Cove?
>> Harbor Cove. Yes. >> Harbor Cove does have some marinas there, >> right? But it was going to be a public one, I think, and that's why they cut it down. But just that's fine if you >> if it's where it's at. Um my next question has to do with I guess the Jitney now is going through
Westgate May. Is that correct? But we never I never saw a resolution go through for them to pay part of that. So is are they getting it for free this year? >> So this year we're doing a pilot program to see how it would work and will it work? And I've had I have an
I did a memo of understanding with West Kate May to that if it moves forward they'll essentially over that the subsequent five years kind of pay us back for this year. But until we kind of could prove proof of concept and and
does it work, does it put a you know the West Cape May is not sure is it going to put an undue burden on their facility as does it become overparked or you know so we just both have to look and see is it something that we want to continue >> right because as a taxpayer how is it benefiting me that we go through West
Kate May and people that are coming to K have to stay on the bus that much longer to go through West Kate May. Well, if somebody is coming into town and they can park at the West Kate May Burough Hall and then don't have to try to take parking from down into town, that's one less car we have to try to find parking
for. If if somebody at the campground or a resident in West Kate May is coming into town for dinner and they would normally have driven into Kate May, that's one less car that we have to try to find parking for in Kate May. You know, the
the the the upside for us is less potential cars coming into town that could be parking in West Kate May that that aren't going to have to find parking in Kay City. >> And how does that work with our insurance through this since they're going they're not in Kate May if they
have an accident with that? >> It's it's their insurance. You know, that vendor has the insurance to operate in the state of New Jersey. So no different if they were driving their jity in Stone Harbor, Seleis, Ocean
City, Atlantic City, or Cape May or West Kate May. It's they have vehicle insurance just like they would anywhere else. >> Okay. So it's more of West Kate May. Somebody if they because I know when that New Jersey Transit hit a bicycle pedestrian on Broadway, they sued the
township. So or the Westgate Burough. Okay. Um, my next question has to do with another thing that I saw, um, I think it was online in Kate May live. Um, making Kate May Avenue a parking lot. Where are we with that? Is that something that you're
entertaining or is that just Hey, I'm just doing what what people see online and I'm just bringing it out there so I can get the answer through through council. >> I've seen some crazy stuff on TikTok about Kate May, you know, that we're putting in a toll bridge and that we're going to have ice on the beaches and all types of crazy things. So,
>> well, this was KMA Live about the parking lot and that it was KMA magazine or something was talking about it. I think >> that was an article back in 2023. Uh, you know, I think it was one one person's view did a very, you know, extensive job. >> Some people grabbed me that live on Kate May Avenue like where are they at? So, I
said I I'll ask the council to see where they're at. That's >> Well, I'm the tree hugger here, so that's not going to happen under my watch. So, [laughter] >> okay. Okay. And then my last thing is where are we at with Franklin Street putting in that? Um I guess we're going to that the city's looking to build a
building or have let them build a building between the Franklin Street School not and across the street from the Franklin Street School next to the AM church. >> It's a buzz. >> You talking about Eastland Theater at AM Church? >> Yes. >> Is that Are you talking about Eastland
Theater at AM Church? Okay. I wasn't sure that's what you're talking about. Um, they're going through the process. I've been having meetings and conversations with various council people and as they formulate what they want to present, I know they've made a presentation at the
HPC and to see if something would work with HPC. Now, they are going to work with city council and when city council feels that they have a proposal that might be acceptable to the overall council that they would potentially be
scheduled for a future meeting here at city council. >> So, is this a proposal where as a taxpayer we would be funding this building? Oh, so it's on our ground, but we're going to let somebody else build on it >> within reason.
>> Yeah. Yeah, I I just don't know how it's beneficial to me as a taxpayer that we're going to give up our land that has parking spots on it. Let somebody build a building and then have them compete with our convention hall for events. >> There's there's a number of plans that still have to be settled, agreed,
fleshed out amongst ourselves, amongst the or organization. Um but all those plans include parking. Is that correct? >> Correct. >> Yeah. Okay. cuz I just as a taxpayer I don't know why the council is reaching out or
allowing these nonprofits to take over city land to build things that it's our land. You know what I'm saying? And that we were using as a function for parking. I think it's metered there, right? And we're going to
let somebody come in just because they're a nonprofit and build something. When are we where are we going to stop at? Hey, I might become a nonprofit. I'm like, hey, you know that piece of ground over there? I want to do that so I can make money on it. And that's what they're going to be doing. They're be making they're gonna have fundraisers and make money.
>> Stacy, I think that you're a little further down the path. We have only there they have a number of plans. They've probably have seven or eight plans and those have been shared. No decisions have been made. The ideas of whatever the nonprofit may be may not
align with what council uh wants. So, we haven't even gotten to that point yet, right? >> So, Paul has met with each of us individually to share what those plans are and none of us have had an opportunity, you know, we haven't talked about it either one-on-one or, you know,
to to say, well, what are your thoughts on this, but we we're not that at that point at this point. And then they would have to >> well see I I would agree with you Marine at the fact then they didn't go to the HPC and not even ask for approval but were
given approval. >> Okay. >> So that's where I think it blew up. >> They have an idea in their mind what they'd like. Right. So they went to HPC to get approval on a concept design. HPC looks at the design, the standards, how it fits in, etc. And they gave them
I think a conditional approval if I recall it. Right. So, but that doesn't mean that the city necessarily I mean the council that we're all in agreement with it. >> Do do you think that they maybe jump the gun by going to HPC before coming to council first? Then
>> I I don't want to I don't want to say something like that publicly and I don't think it's fair to the value of what they're trying to do in their mind and the pro and what they believe is the right thing for the future of their organization. it doesn't necessarily mean that it aligns with what this council wants to approve or that that
the public might accept. We're nowhere near that at this point. I So I I mean there's you know they I think they understand where you know they they need to come and talk with each council member about what the their vision is and whether or not that is acceptable to
us as a council and whether or not we want to have them come and present that publicly. what they presented to HPC by the time they get here may change completely. >> Yeah. Yeah. And I guess I I I understand where you're coming from. But the
>> just like someone comes to the planning board, a builder decides they have a piece of land and they want to build something. You know, it's not necessarily always, oh yeah, sure. Let's go along with that. You know, we agree with it. That that's where the process comes in. Zoning, the same thing. You know, what people have in their mind
that they believe is the right thing for them. doesn't necessarily cross the threshold of approval. >> And I agree with you except for the fact that Amy Church doesn't own this land. That's where the difference is. If a builder or somebody comes, they own the land. They don't I think mo I don't want to speak for everyone, but I think I
think we do agree with you, but as a majority and um just just say this, I just as a president that was set years ago in Kate May stage, you know, they added an addition to the back of their building which allowed them to have the changing rooms and all that. so that you
know the historic building itself, the stage could be built and and they have a theater and I I think I would say you 99% of the people that you would speak to would agree that Kate May stage has been an excellent addition to the community and um has well kept the the
the city owned the taxpayer owned building. Um, and let me just say everything that I've seen from Eastland Theater in maintaining that building and the interior of what they've done and the addition of arts and culture has been a beautiful addition to our community. And just as a reminder too,
just as as a topic, you know, we purchased that building. Um, a large majority of the money that was used to rehabilitate it was um, uh, grant funding. Um, and now they maintain that building, I think, in a very nice way.
But they have been given zero approval of any of the plans that they have and any approval would have to come in a public meeting. I would cons I would assume many public build meetings frankly. Um but I just want to com just
just to remind everybody that this has happened with Kate May stage in the past adding an addition to the the back of it to make it a viable and successful theater or >> whatever. And I would also say an addition is different than >> I agree with two story.
>> We agreed we agreed on this once we handed this >> as part of the lease >> as part of the lease. >> It was not that there may be some >> it was different. >> So different. >> We share in your concerns. I I can say that with with everybody up here. We share in your concerns and um they will
have to be publicly um fleshed out. >> Okay. Thank you. Yeah, >> I'd like to just add I was the last one that Paul spoke to about the plans and I think that >> after our discussions each one of us have a different uh different things [clears throat] that really stick out to us which is important and I really value
everything that he had said that you members have said too. So that I think it was a very productive this is a productive start. We're not anywhere yet. >> Jules Rouse 1010 New York Avenue just to add to that conversation about the Eastland Theater. It was presented to
the taxpayers board that there's going to be a presentation made by Eastland Theater through city council on the 18th. Is that you know anything about that? >> I think that they were hoping that that was part of their plan and process. But
um at least based on my conversation that I've had with the majority of council that I'm going to provide some feedback to East Lynn and you know I they're more most likely going to be pushing from that August 18th meeting
and and having to have some discussions on how to move forward. >> So there there is no no item on the agenda. Well, the you can ask the deputy clerk, but that agenda has not even been set in thought. We have we have one
meeting before we even we haven't even set the agenda for the August 4th meeting yet. So, you know, we've got about three weeks before that meeting is even discussed. So, um I can't sit here and say that it is or
isn't going to be on there, but most likely it's not. But I can't definitively say it won't be. That project is not going to proceed without a further public public meeting. >> It's not simply put. So, it's not going to be a surprise here. It's going up
there. There's going to have to be another public discussion and probably multiple about the fate of that design and how it fits in with the lease. That will have to be amended. The HPC fully understood that when they were hearing a conceptual approval, which is not the
basis for a construction permit. says that in conceptual approvals and Eastland Theater knows that too that they're going to have to kind of flush out and answer a lot of these questions and it's going to have to be answered in public. I think whether they have that figured out by the 18th, we'll see. But whatever happens going to be in public.
>> I just make a quick comparison. I I I would really compare it to um the Jacob Jones. You know, people came out with a lot of concern about that and I agreed with that concern. I didn't want to necessarily say it super loud at those public meetings because frankly I
thought they had a really their heart was in the right place. Right. So we had a lot of public meetings about that. I think they did a really great job and then turned it into a great project. I think the public did a great job to make it into a better project. So I would
assume that we would follow a very similar course. This is another nonprofit um requesting to use public property. Um so I I would believe that it would be a very similar process and I would believe that the public would have their input
and we'll we'll see how how it goes. But I I just hope people give it the opportunity like they did with the Jacob Jones. >> Well, I think it goes it goes beyond just this particular project unto itself. It is it is a major from what I
have understood and what I have seen. This is a deviation from the architectural history of this community. And I think there needs to be a discussion philosophically on how we want to proceed with what Kate May is
going to look like in the future if we entertain a project that is relatively modern and glass as as what has been shown so far. So I think it's it's really more than just a particular building on a particular lot. I think it
it's a philosophical thing that needs to be serious seriously discussed and also understand from from uh from the state how they react to this kind of a change. >> We we didn't even bring that up Jules and not to interrupt you but that it's
this building whatever it is will have to go before the >> I understand that too. >> Yeah. Uh just a couple other little items. I'd like to thank uh Justin for what he did. Uh we had house guests that went up to the beach on Madison and uh
the hotel the spaces that the hotels have have reserved for their customers was rather extensive to the point where there was literally no beach area, beachfront area uh on the on the water that was available to the general
public. and uh Justin addressed that and I believe there were some changes made but I think it also brings up and I've looked into this a little bit further. the uh the hotels have gotten a bit aggressive in
design designating areas for their their clientele to the extent that you know the 50 40 50,000 visitors that we have they're they're kind of precluded from having what I'll call oceanfront beach access u I don't know how you monitor
how you monitor or enforce that particular ordinance on a communitywide basis but it's something that I think should be should be considered in the future. There's another issue that deals with the showers on the beaches. My house
guest noticed that coming off of of Madison, one of the showerheads, the the nozzle or the tip was taken off and it was nothing more than a than a hose uh of a complete stream of water. And I've
also noticed in in several areas uh along the beachfront that the showers uh they don't operate quite as well as they're supposed to. They don't shut off. They stay on. I don't know how you monitor that, how you administrate it,
but I would was wondering if and I don't know. Um Paul, can I answer Paul? Do the beach taggers usually call that in? Yeah, we get calls in all the time where there's somebody from the public, you know, I mean, a lot of times in the public, they just go there and kind of pump the the
thing a couple times and then it shuts off. So, most of the time it's it's a fellow resident that just kind of shuts it off. But, yeah, we get if we get one that really sticks, they call it in and the water sewer department comes out and takes a look at it. So, it's it's on a routine look at as far as, you know,
they're inspected and reviewed daily. Just I mean it would make all the sense in the world to make sure that the beach taggers know if if you see one stuck in, call it in, you know. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Would do we have the the opportunity to shut down the actual uh beginning of the
water distribution to the showers? Are they connected in into the general public water system at a d a number of locations or is there one or two master points that we could actually put a a an electronic shut off so that let's say 7
in the evening or 9 in the evening they would be off completely until 7 or 9 the next day. I don't know how many connections they have, but I don't know. >> Probably hooked up in bathrooms. >> Yeah, they're hooked up at various locations. So, it's not a it would not
be a that would be a larger task than what it's not one simple. It's not one single location, but that's why. And it's not like two either. It's multiple locations. >> All right. Thank you very much.
>> Thank you, Jules. Anyone else uh from the public? Seeing none, we'll close public comment. >> I would just want to follow up on the um the monitoring of the beach hotel uh concessions. You know, we did a very
good job in revising the standards in the last set of leases and you know, we again had a meeting pre-season uh with all the concessionires and had discussions uh with them about our expectations and and I know that um uh
Michelle Samson who's in charge of you know the outside operations is is reviews that routinely. I know our code enforcement has been out there. I personally have gone out and spot checked and I think that the hotels by
and large do a very good job of especially with our new method of you know we you know I had publics go out and we put posts out to to designate and delineate which it makes it much easier for their staff hotel staff to to
understand where their limits are and for enforcement to go out there really quick look down the beach and know if they're in line or not. So, I think that they have been very good. I mean, honestly, some of the
bigger violators of pre-etup are the residents that don't belong to the concessions and and pre-etting up tents and, you know, the tents on the beach are are, you know, that are unattended is is a bigger issue than our
concessionires on the beach. So, um I just would just, you know, to defend, you know, I know we have some issues and we we work with them on a daily basis, but I think by and large the the all of our concessionires are operating within what they're supposed to be doing.
>> Great. Uh motion to adjurnn. >> So moved. Second. >> Is that where we're at? Yes. Okay. Thank you everyone. Have a wonderful day. Thank you so much. >> Time is 3:45. You're supposed to mic.