All good. All right. Good afternoon everyone. We have a regular meeting of the city council of the city of Kate May. We are here in the Kate May city hall auditorium. Today is Tuesday, July 1st, 2025. The time is now 5 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. Copy. The agenda was delivered to each member of city council, posted on the city website and city hall bulletin board. Notice 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 is absent. Mayor Mullik here. City Solicer Gillan Schwarz here. City Manager Dietrich here. Deputy Manager Riggs here. Deputy Clerk Turner here. Any additions or deletions tonight? Council, anything
council? No. Right. Going on to the presentation of the uh new police headquarters? Rob, John, welcome. Thank you very much for coming. Thank you for having us. So Rob and John, you can introduce
yourselves, but we're for the architects uh on the police station building. Mr. Connley, could you turn that on and speak into it for me, please? Thank you. It lift it on up. It moves. You're good. Um Rob Connley from Robbie Connley Architect,
the architects on the police station. And John Descano from Robbie Connley Architect. Thank you for joining us. Yeah, thank you. Paul, do you want to take it away? Yeah, we're um finally here, everyone. Um it's
been a long journey to get to this point. Uh you know, Rob and John have been working with Vince Orlando with EDA on for the site engineers side of it. Um he unfortunately couldn't be here tonight, but we can go over that. I can probably cover most of the site plan
issues. um the task force. We have several of the task force members here with us today that have worked for several years um and you know we're kind of finally here ready to uh you know present the final plans and I think
we're ready to go out to bid for this project. Uh what we're hoping to do is with authorization this evening uh to to go out to bid on July 23rd, have the bids due back on September 10th, uh which then would align us for an award
back here at a council meeting on September 16th. Uh and in talking to Rob, that would kind of gear us in for a early October, midocctober uh groundbreaking and and get get started for construction.
Um, so I do have the plans up here if we if if Rob wants to kind of we can briefly discuss. I mean, I think I'll go back to the site plan. You know, it's it's generally located at the corner of St. John and Lafayette. You know, this this plan and layout has kind of
remained pretty similar. um the the orientation of the driveway coming in and some of the parking stalls have changed slightly probably from one of the the initial draft that may have been seen by the public. Um but
it accommodates all of the different site features and issues that we've come up as far as grading as far as I call it the bathtub and the the remediation that we have to stay away from on the the former JCPNL site. Uh we've also it'll
have landscaping along both sides. We'll have the uh gas lamps, the electric electrified gas lamps similar to what's on the Washington Street Mall along uh St. John and Lafayette. Um we'll have fence to kind of block the parking lot
from the neighbors across the street. And you know, that's generally the site itself. And then I'll let the architects kind of go over the the I'll say the important part of the project that we're really here to talk about and that's the police headquarters building.
Okay. Well, thank you Paul. Um, as you can see the building uh that we have up there, the bottom leftand corner is what we call the front of the building that's going to be facing uh Lafayette Street with the entrance on the corner. Uh the
building is made out of masonry. Uh the outside will be brick. The manored roof will be uh faux shingles and all of the windows that we're using and doors that we're using on the building are pretty much the same ones
that we used on the firehouse. And we're also using the same exact color brick that was used on the firehouse. Um the bottom course of brick is a utility brick uh which is a little bit bigger and then we're going to have a
ledge on top of that and then the normal size brick and then there's an access band going across and that will actually be a black dark gray to black brick as an accent color. And underneath of each one of those little bumpout windows, uh
there we also have a change in the brick pattern. Uh which was one of the things that was requested by um historic preservation. And so we're doing that with the brick just to make the building not look so
plain and and blank and to give it a little bit more uh depth to the design. Uh, also the overhead doors uh on the street side uh on St. John's Street side are going to be
to look like uh cottage doors as opposed to regular overhead doors. Uh if we wanted to take a look at the back paw, the back of the building. Um there we have regular rollup doors and since they're not facing the street,
they're just going to uh look a little bit more utilitarian and they're going to be black to match all the windows and the other doors on the project. Uh and then along the park side is the same thing with the brick, which is the top right hand side there. Um that will be
similar to the other side with the stripe going across the accent bricks and the two different color or two different sizes of brick. Uh and we also have a soldier course over top of the windows just to make it look like a a
natural brick building. So, and then on the inside of the building, like I said, the entrance is on the corner of Lafayette and St. John. Uh, we'll have a lobby there. And the first
floor is pretty much the processing uh area and the sort of public area in the front. And then the back is the processing in the area that's separated uh for the clients that will come in uh
as the chief likes to call them. Um and then in the middle middle of that is where all the patrolmen will be located. And then as you go up the building on the second floor is the detectives, the lockers, showers, those sort of things.
And the third floor is more of the uh command staff. Uh and on the rear of the third floor is an opened patio area, an observation deck, uh where the chief will be able to uh have community
gettogethers and whatnot out there and also observe over the park and the uh the city. Um I think that's about all for now. Uh Rob, do you Would you mind is chief
here? I'm sorry I can't see you back there. Chief, would you mind give us a little quick um overview of what you think, you know, from the interior perspective, what you can talk about and what you like. Absolutely. Uh first and foremost, thank you all for inviting me here and this process has been long and
arduous. However, uh it's been better fitted with a council like yourselves, mayor yourself, city manager, um as well, and Robbie and John Dano and my team. I I couldn't do it without these guys, the men and women of the Kate Police Department. So, with that said, um this is a state-of-the-art building
in my opinion, um with the outside fitting the surroundings of Kate May City. Um the historic preservation committee was they worked very closely with us uh with this project. Uh there were some that said, "Hey, it's too big, too massive." But we packed everything we could into these three floors, two
and a half floors basically. Um we currently are in two buildings. We're separated by a few a mile or so here between West Cape May and Cape May City. Um, everyone knows my my my steak here. I'm Italian and I like to have my family together. This brings it together. First floor, like Robbie said, uh, is the
working group. Um, that's where clients will come in and they'll be, uh, attended to if they're under arrest, so such on and so forth. Um, we have that indoor sally port that you can pull in, keeping the business and keeping everybody's, um, business off the street. We can get them in, get them
safely off the street, deal with them, and bring them in through that portion of the building. We can house our golf cart in there. Uh our bike storage for the for the back end for our summer officers as well. Um walking them through that side of the building, interview rooms along that first floor. Um we have a domestic violence room for
those that have any conflict there. Uh it'll be a nice area for them to be seated in. Um and and also in the front of the building with that lobby, we have a greeting area. It's kind of informal now with the way we have it set up here and we it's it's sometimes has interrupted uh council meetings. We're dealing with someone in the hallway. So,
um, we were allowed to make a little room off of the lobby that we can bring someone in, discuss their their problem or issue privately, and then bring them out and sit them in the lobby while we tend to their business. Um, there's two elevator or one elevator in this building, uh, two staircases that lead us up into the third the second floor,
um, which is our break room. We have a a properly sized break room, a kitchen for the officers and staff to cook meals and kind of, you know, break bread, per se. Um down the hallway there we have our armory. We have our evidence collection area where we can properly process our evidence and make sure that it's it's
bagged and tagged correctly. Um we're using some state-of-the-art um evidence collection systems in there um to to move forward. The detectives are on that floor as well. Moving backwards, you have the locker rooms on that second floor and a fitness area. So we'll have a gym area for the officers to maintain
their physical um capabilities. Moving up to the third floor, like John Robbie said, uh the admin side of the house and uh some storage where the chief's office, lieutenants captain, my admin secretary will be will be housed. Um a very narrow building, 42 ft wide by
137ish, but everything we need is packed into that building. And this is a long-standing building that should be here. Um, and I I did forget my building task force. Without those gentlemen, uh, and Miss McDade as well, um, stepping into the arena a few years ago, we wouldn't be here. Their past knowledge
of police service and and working group, Mr. Elwell is here and and being John over there. So, we have um Jake, pardon me, um, a lot of a lot of knowledge base coming into this building. It wasn't just me, Deacon, saying, "Hey, this is what we're going to do," or the crew behind me here, Lieutenant Walker, Maza,
and Captain Bobic. Um, we just kind of took everybody's collective opinions, yourselves included, and and also the city and the residents to make sure that this building was right, and that uh it fit. Um, it's big, but it fits to the entrance to Kate May when you come in. This is the first big building you'll
see before you get to the fire department. And, uh, I think it's very fitting for the the for the area. Thank you very much, Chief. You're welcome. Any uh questions, city council? long long time comment. I I just want to
um thank uh especially uh our uh task force members here, former mayor Bob Elwell and uh former police North Wildwood Police Chief and HPC member uh Jake Stevenson. Thank you for all your work on the task force. Um, as as chief
mentioned, there was a lot of people involved in this whole group and trying to get it together. And I think we all agree it's been a long time coming, but I also want to thank our solicitor um, in regards to that long time coming because always the legal stuff always seems to take the longest. But, uh, no,
and without without you, Mr. Gillan Schwarz, it it wouldn't have it was like a a bowl of spaghetti that you had to unscramble and alphabets would. Yeah. Oh my gosh. Uh, did Just to remind the public, this this uh area included um
JCPNL, Jersey Central Power and Light. It included um the EPA, the New Jersey DP, the um uh state historic preservation office, obviously our own HPC, which we valued very much. Um and and obviously had an HPC member as part
of it. Warren Copelan uh former chair of the HPC also looked at this plan extensively especially in the beginning. Um it of course involved the school board um the county uh county had a piece the h the housing authority um HUD
it had involved a housing and urban development. So it just had every acronym that you can come up with, but work through each detail. But and finally too in regards to the land diversion uh which was the key kind of
nearly final piece was um uh basically trading 14 acres. So a very small uh parcel for six almost seven acres uh even maybe a little bit more by the end. 6.9 6.9
something like that um at at the soul track. So as an aside from the police station itself um you know preserved a ton of valuable and environmentally sensitive property at the soul track um to have a location that really worked for West
Kate May of course all the different directions in the city Kate May point etc. Um, but anyway, I just want to thank all the folks that were involved in the process to get us to this point and um hopefully we get this out to bid and get some good numbers and move it
move it right along. Any any uh questions or comments, council? John, Rob, thank you so very much. We appreciate it. Thank you very much. Great work. Thank you for appreciate the opportunity. Happy fourth. Yep.
Okay, on to updates and old business. City manager. Well, we're kicked off for summer. Summer's definitely here with all the heat and everything. Um, at the next meeting, I hope to be able to have a a full report on where we start
preliminarily with some of our parking beach tag revenues and and give a full report of that after we kind of get through the Fourth of July weekend and have a a better grasp on where we stand with that. So, at that meeting, I'll be able to give a good full report on where we stand up to date for that. But, uh,
all the departments are kind of geared up, ready for the holiday weekend, and, um, the weather's definitely bringing everybody into town. So, I just hope everybody is safe for the weekend and and enjoys, uh, what Kate May has to
offer. So, thank you. Thank you, city manager, city solicitor. Nothing tonight, mayor. Thank you. Okay. City Council, any updates or old business? On to ordinances for introduction? Yes, council. We have 573-2025,
an ordinance authorizing a lease agreement with Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts, Inc., MAC, for a portion of the welcome center. Do I have a motion? I'll make the motion. Do I have a second? I'll second. Any questions or comments? Roll call. Deputy Mayor McDade. Yes.
Council member Bodner, yes. Yes. Council member Baldwin. Yes. Mayor Mullik. Yes. And moving on to ordinances for second reading and consideration for adoption. We have 562-2025, an ordinance amending section 368-2 of the city code regarding prohibited
conduct in park and recreation areas to prohibit dogs on the nature trails at Lafayette Street Park. And there is a public hearing tonight. Mayor, is anyone here wishing to speak on ordinance 562? 562. Said a few words at the last one. Uh,
okay. Do I have a motion? We'll we'll close public comment on that ordinance. Do Do I have a motion? I'll make a motion. Do I have a second? I'll second. Any questions or comments? Roll call. Deputy Mayor McDade. Yes. Council member Bodner. Yes. Council member Baldwin.
Yes. Mayor Mullik. Yes. 563-2025, an ordinance providing minimum parking limitations and regulations for all vehicles in the city of Kate May with a public hearing. Is anyone here wishing to speak on ordinance 563? Seeing no one, we'll close public
comment. Do I have a motion? I'll make the motion. Do I have a second? I'll second. Any questions or comments? Council, roll call. Deputy Mayor McDade, yes. Council member Bodner, yes. Council member Baldwin, yes. Mayor Mullik. Yes. 564-2025
bond ordinance providing for various water sewer utility improvements buying in the city of Kate May County of Kate May state of New Jersey appropriating $2,335,000 therefore and author authorizing the issuance of $2,355,000 bonds or notes of the city to finance
the costs thereof. Is anyone here wishing to speak on 564? Ordinance 564? Mr. Jules Rous 1010 New York Avenue. Really, it's a combination of the next three uh ordinances. Will has there been a projected date
when the city is going to advertise for the bond sales? No, Kevin's still looking at that and I don't I think it'll be later this fall if if any at any time. I I don't think that we're ready to do one at this
moment for for a full bond sale. So then I I assume that the the total amount of the bond sale is also unknown. I mean we've got roughly $9 million and yeah these are all vans. These are all will be all financed through temporary financing as we com you know don't
remember these are just setting up the budgetary accounts to do the projects you know until like the I mean the water tower like we're discussing now is the water sewer bond which includes the water tower painting we still have to go out prepare the final plans and specs
for that put that out to bid and do that so that project hasn't even been put out to bid to know what the final number is. So you wouldn't encumber that into a final bond until the project has been awarded. So that might not be put into
permanent financing until the bond we do in 2027. So can I assume then we'll be we'll be using some bond anticipation notes? Yes. Yes. For for all of these projects for all these for the next three bonds. Yes. We'll be using bond anticipation notes
as they become up for construction and moving forward. I assume that. Thank you very much. Thank you. Anyone else on 564? And you know, I'm Let's because they're all very similar. Let's open it up for 565 and 566.
Any any of the bond ordinances here? Public comment. Um my comment is referencing bond 566. It's the bond orange providing for various capital improvements for 4,620,000.
Uh my question or my comment has to do with the police department. Let me see. Let me start with the police department. I think it's um well fire department. $100,000 for equipment with a fiveyear use life. Again, you know,
I've been up here before talking about the fact that equipment that only has a fiveyear use life should be put into their expenses that they pay for on a yearly basis. We shouldn't go be going out for a 20-year bond for equipment that only lasts for five years and we'll
be paying for that with all that interest. That's, you know, proper management of your department and that should be looked at in that. And that also goes for the police with their equipment with a five-year lifespan. Also, you know, these are things that
should not be bonded for. These are things that if they're needed, they should be put into the budget and budgeted accordingly. Thank you. Any other questions or comments?
Okay. Do I have a we do I have a motion on 564? That's actually a question. Do I have a motion? Can I get a motion? I'll make the motion on 564. Can I have a second, please? I'll second. Any questions or comments?
Roll call. Deputy Mayor McNe. Yes. Council member Bodner, yes. Council member Baldwin, yes. Mayor Milik, yes. And 565-2025, bond ordinance providing for various beach utility improvements by in the city of Kate May, County of Kate May, state of New Jersey, appropriating $2
million. therefore and authorizing the issuance of $2 million bonds or notes of the city to finance the costs thereof uh with a public hearing. But we as a point of order, should I just open this up for public comment again? Well, anyone wishing to speak on 565 just to
stay in order. Seeing none, we'll close public comment. Do I have a motion? I'll make a motion. Do I have a second? I'll second. Any questions or comments? Roll call. Deputy Mayor McDade. Yes. Council member Bodner, yes. Council member Baldwin, yes. Mayor Mullik, yes.
And 566-2025 bought an ordinance providing for various 2025 capital improvements by in the city of Kate May County of Kate May, state of New Jersey, appropriating $4,620,000, therefore, and authorizing the issuance of $4,400,000 bonds or notes of the city
to finance part of the cost thereof. Does anyone wish to make further comment on 566? Ordinance 566? Seeing none, we'll close public comment. Do I have a motion? I'll make the motion. Do I have a second? I'll second.
Any questions or comments? Roll call. Deputy Mayor McDeade. Yes. Council member Bodner. Yes. Council member Baldwin. Yes. Mayor Mullik. Yes. Moving on to public portions on the resolutions only. Is anyone here wishing to speak on
resolutions this evening this afternoon? Any any resolution comments? Actually, if um I was going to ask remove 223 and 224. Absolutely. From the consent agenda. Anything else to remove
from the consent council? Anything council? No. Okay, we're good with the public. All right. So, do we have a motion then to adopt the consent agenda minus 223 and 224? Do
I have a motion? I'll make a motion. Do I have a second? I'll second. Roll call. Deputy Mayor McDade. Yes. Council member Bodner. Yes. Council member Baldwin. Yes. Mayor Maul. Yes. All right. We have 22307 2025 resolution
of the city council of the city of Kate May endorsing a fourth round housing element and fair share plan. Okay. So, uh, the reason I just asked these, we'll just make a motion. Motion in a second. Do I can I have a motion on that resolution? I'll make a motion. Do I have a second? I'll second. Go ahead,
Steve. Sorry. Um, the reason I asked that those be removed, I just had some some comments that I just wanted to make um about about them. So, um, look, all communities are required to have an affordable housing plan to address affordable housing in their communities.
And the way the the way those plans are are structured is there well there's a funding structure for affordable housing and Kate May has accumulated I believe it's just about $2.7 million
um in um in a dedicated trust fund for affordable housing and um our spending plan does address this but I just want to reinforce the notion that the city um should do all that it can to work with the Kate May housing authority. Uh when it comes to issues regarding affordable
housing, um I mean a a segment of our community lives in housing that's overseen by the Kate May Housing Authority. And many of those homes, we don't have a lot of families, you know, in in Kate May. We don't certainly don't have a lot of families that have children living in Kate May full-time.
Um but a lot of the families that we do have in Cape May are living in housing, authority housing. Um, you know, you go down Lafayette Street, you go on Broad Street Court, um, it's evident that the housing that is located there is in need
of rehabilitation and by way of how affordable housing works, rehabbing those units would go towards satisfying Kate May's affordable housing obligations. Um, I note that,
you know, and and while I'm suggesting and and asking that we work with the the Kate May Housing Authority, it's clear that that's what the city's intent is doing by specifically mentioning in our in the spending plan that monies will be used if the city agrees to move forward
with gut rehabilitation and deed restricting existing units owned by the Cape May Housing Authority as affordable housing units or agrees to create new affordable housing units. with the Kate May Housing Authority or a selected developer. So, it's this is going to be
a work in progress. It doesn't happen um it doesn't happen quickly. Um there is going I'm sure this is going to be a unfortunately it becomes a protracted exercise um in working out issues of affordable housing. But I, you know, to
me what I see is a a commitment with from the city to work in that direction and try to make this come to fruition for um and make things better for a segment that's already existing in our community. Um, not just doing what we
are legally obligated to do, but also living up to a cervix civic duty as well. So, thank you. I agree. Thank Thank you, Councilman Bonner. Any uh other questions or comments on resolution 223? Mayor, if I may, I just want to make a
brief comment on this process. We're and and to Councilman Bodmer Bodner's point. We're we're under an artificial deadline under the the new statutory framework. So, a lot of this these plans and the spending plan have to be adopted on a
strict timeline. Um, but what I think a lot of the professional staff uh sees as the benefit of this is there's there's some flexibility to account for opportunities in the future. Um, and that was critical to the planning process. And I I'll want to um thank Mr.
Hurles for his institutional knowledge in generating this. It's a lot of work to put this together. It's a lot really helpful when you have someone who has that much of uh collective memory. um to attack. And when I say attack, I mean attack the problem and make sure you
have a plan. Um but the city is I think in a a very good position even under this new statute um that a lot of towns are trying to figure out and navigate. But the city is I think uniquely situated and has a u a good strategy to
you know deal with this issue and the flexibility I think to evaluate those opportunities um in the future. So, I just wanted to point that out. There's a lot of work that's been done, a lot of work to be done, and we'll have to navigate through that process, but I I think from my perspective, the city's in
a very good position um under this new regulation. I wanted to just echo what Mr. Gillan said about Mr. Hurles putting together. um the planning board had an opportunity for him to provide us with an overview and really was able to drill
this down to I would say in the simplest of terms on a very complex subject. Um and was able to I think give the planning board uh an understanding of how a complex requirement under the law will fit into and how the city of Cape
May will be able to move this forward. Um and you know having listened through that presentation at the end of it I felt like I understood exactly where we we you know stood for the first time to be perfectly honest. Um in the past it's been somewhat confusing. Um and he took
us through each of the rounds uh where our obligations were our future obligations were and um made it um quite frankly a difficult subject um very easy to understand. So thank you Mr. Harles. I know it was a lot of time and you are under the gun to get it done under the
wire. So, thank you Mr. Hurles really and uh appreciate how many pages was it? 30 60 please Mr. Yeah. Thank you. Thank you very much. Um once again this is the
third. Is that on is your microphone on just so Yeah, it's on green. So this is the third affordable housing plan and housing element that I've worked on on behalf of the city. The city has been very proactive in addressing their affordable housing dating back for the
last three rounds. Um once again, uh in 2024, our beloved government said we're going to change the rules again and create this new timeline. And that's why we're pressed to come up with this plan in such a hurry. Um and it did. And the
plan that I prepared gives the city the flexibility of addressing affordable housing with the housing authority. Um the housing authority was brought into this process during our last re-examination. Um six years ago we
recognized, hey, we got another round coming. They're looking to reh rehabilitate those units. Those units are over 50 years old. It's about time that that that's happened. And this gives us a great opportunity for the city to satisfy their affordable housing
obligations as well as addressing their housing stock needs. So I think it's a it's been a a great process and I I know that we're going to be coming to some type of solution and agreement in the future. Recognize that the plan can
change as projects come and go. the spending plan can be revised and the affordable housing plan can be revised through that 10-year period because this is a 10-year this is forecasting our affordable housing needs through the next 10 years from 2025 to 2035. Um so
it gives us flexibility recognize that plans evolve and that we may need to revisit this at a later date but and I thank everyone from the city the mayor uh Mr. Bodner, Chris Gillan Schwarz, your affordable housing council, uh,
Eric Nolan, all of your staff that has helped me prepare these plans. Um, but I think we have a good plan. Um, it's not a great departure. There's not huge mechanism changes. Um, but we're evolving our plan to meet the needs of affordable housing within Kate May.
Thank you very much, Mr. Thank you. Okay. I'm going to go to public comment just right now. So, let me just stay in order if that's all right. Um, so, uh, we we have a motion and a second on
232. Is that correct? 223. Yes. I'm sorry. 223. Sorry. Okay. Okay. So, we have a motion and a second. Uh, roll call. Deputy Mayor McDade. Yes. Council member Bodner. Yes. Council member Baldwin. Yes. Mayor Mullik. Yes. And we
have 224072025 resolution of the city council of the city of Kay approving a fourth round affordable housing trust fund spending plan and requesting program and court approval of the spending plan. Do I have a motion? I'll make the motion. Do I have a second? House. Okay.
Any questions or comments? Roll call. Deputy Mayor McDeade. Yes. Council member Broader. Yes. Council member Baldwin. Yes. Mayor Mullik. Yes. Okay. New business. City solicitor. Nothing tonight, mayor. Thank you. City manager,
nothing. City clerk, just a few. A reminder that city offices will be closed this Friday on the 4th of July for Independence Day. And to that end, I have our lineup of events for the weekend. Um on Friday, Saturday, Sunday,
and Monday at 7 p.m., there will be free concerts in Rotary Park. Um, we have the fireworks display will be on the 4th of July at 9:30 p.m. from a barge at sea in front of Congress Hall. The rain date is scheduled for July 6th and that will be
announced via social media if necessary. And there is our annual Independence Day parade on Saturday, July 5th at 100 p.m. with the rain of the 6th of July. Lineup is at noon at New Jersey and Philly Avenues. Um, they they're doing a best decorated contest, so wear your red,
white, and blue. So, there'll be prizes given out. So, give a call if you have any questions on that. Uh, we encourage your participation. Councils, too. Thank you. That's it. Okay. Um, Council Member Baldwin,
just a couple things, Mayor. Um, just a big shout out to, uh, everybody, DPW, um, all of the departments. The city looks great. Um, and yeah, it really has been a great start to the to the summer. Um,
and then the second thing, uh, there's going to be a walk-in talk on the mats, uh, out behind convention hall with the clerk's office and myself. Um, and it's going to be like an open talk. Um, anything that's going on, anything from the from the clerk's office. Um, so if
anybody can make it, that would be great. That's great. Thank you. Nice. Okay. Councilman Bodner, I'd like to commend the Kate May City Police Department for their investigation that resulted in the
arrest of six individuals for the 2024 smash and grab burglary of one of our local businesses. Um, from my experience as a county prosecutor, I got to tell you, these are difficult cases to investigate and um, very difficult cases
to solve. It requires perseverance. It provide it requires a great degree of technical skill and proficiency. And in this case, it resulted in the arrest of six individuals. Those six people um,
they're not from New Jersey. They're not from Kate May County. So, um, this is, um, and this is a case that's going to be prosecuted federally, I would add, as well. So, I know each season, um, gives different challenges to our police department, um, from a from a need
standpoint. Um, you know, a lot of the work that gets involved is community policing. Um, we were quiet town, quieter town in the winter and we're a very, very busy town right now and throughout the summer. Um and our police department, whether it's community
policing um or in this instance demonstrating a need for um the proficiency that you see in investigation um shows that we have, you know, we have a talented group of people. We really have a talented group of police officers
and we're very fortunate to have them. So, I want to thank you for the work that you do each and every day, but I congratulate you on bringing this investigation to a successful point where these people are going to be arrested and going to be prosecuted. So, thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Bodner. Deputy
Mayor, um, shout out to Captain Beck. They have a fully staffed lifeguard crew, so all the beaches are opened. Um, I think that's probably, uh, first time in a long time. So, um, that's great. Yeah, he's he was really very happy, very pleased. A lot of legacy, uh,
recruits. Um, so I think that, uh, bodess well for future. Um, on a not so happy note, I just wanted to, um, mention, um, thinking of the firefighters and EMTs after the incident, the horrific incident in Idaho
with the ambush of the firefighters. Um, you know, just thoughts and prayers out to all of firefighters throughout the country. I'm sure that it's shaken. I reached out to Alex and uh Mike this morning, but um you know, just not something anyone would anticipate or expect um thankfully um you know, we
we've never had a situation like that, but it certainly gives reason for pause um when something like that that's never happened before um to that group of individuals. Um so thoughts and prayers to everyone out there. Thank you. Um I just want to thank again uh Rob and
John. uh you've been a lot of work to get to this point. So, thank you very much. And again, our police station task force members. Thank you very much. Um but most of all, I want to uh thank the police department uh for not just your your professionalism, but your patience
and and getting this going and and we appreciate it. So, Chief, thank you. Thank you very much. Um I guess we have a little bit of a theme tonight, but really I I appreciate all of your hard work uh to get to this point. So, uh, thank thank you very much. Um, and just
happy 4th of July to everybody. Have a have a wonderful, safe weekend. Uh, with that, we'll open it up to the public. Anyone wishing to speak, please come to the microphone, state your name and address. Mayor, just real quick before we go into that, I just want to recognize resolution 232. Um, which is
John Thomas, the school business administrator over in uh, Kate May, West Kate May. Um, unfortunately he was unable to make it this evening, but we're going to mail him the resolution and a key to the city because he really uh worked diligently with the city on various project and wish him
congratulations um in retirement. Yeah, congratulations John. He excellent uh excellent person to deal with. So we thank you very much. Uh m Mr. Go ahead, sir. Yep. Good afternoon. Gary Snyder, 105 1st Avenue, resident Kate May. And
um uplifting meeting here, folks. I want to say that in public government, at least in my experience, there aren't enough of accolades. And I congratulate you all on the successes. It's really good to hear. And I think I've spent too many years doing infrastructure related
uh city management related items. And uh I I my hats off to the mayor of the council, certainly the city manager engineer who's the boots on the ground, gets a lot of these infrastructure and community related projects done. So uh I thank you for that and again commend
you. Um I I'm here as a concerned citizen to express u uh some hesitation about the proposed West Kate May pedestrian bridge on first half. And I know it's a long way off, but um now is the time for um I think the the
residents in the area, myself who I'm speaking for and some other concerned residents in the community in the Cove community that see um that that just question where we are on this. It it's an important part of the the greater
program for looking at obviously pedestrian and bike safety, which is a critical need. And again, I applaud the efforts there. Um, safety is paramount. There's no question. But when when I and some others have stepped back to
look at this project, we've asked ourselves, is this really the the best option? Is it the safest pedestrian office option? Is it the the safest bicycle option? Um, does it have impacts
relative to some of the other alternatives? And from what I understand in the report, at least from what I read, I don't think the pedestrian bridge has actually been a reviewed alternative in the formal study. So I again I would question the the process or the method of looking at you know
conic cost benefit analysis. But safety is paramount. No question. There are um environmental impacts with this option that we can't overlook. whether it be flora fauna, endangered species, filling wetlands, the water quality and Cape Island Creek as it enters um the nature
conservies south meadows and and I could go on but won't here it's not the forum um and again I think fiscal responsibility you know costbenefit analysis when we've all spent too much time in our careers looking at projects and trying to pick the best one um and
and cost and benefit are is certainly one way to do that um again I don't think this was analyzed the bridge itself wasn't analyzed like some of the other options but when I step back and objectively look at it again don't not I don't have all the information there's
significant costs here uh maybe funding that doesn't directly come out of either West Kay or the city of Kate May's budget but there are significant costs and there are there are some benefits no doubt are they benefits that are better than some of the less costly
alternatives perhaps not there are disbenefits and and again some of these impacts. So, I don't want to spend much time on it tonight, but again, I wanted to bring this concern to the council. Um I I reached out to Councilman Bodner just before the meeting. We're going to set up some time to talk um maybe get
together with the greater community. Uh you will probably hear more from the Cove community residents over the next several weeks, months, what have you. I know there's a contingent on the other side of the canal that's talked a lot a lot with u uh Dick about his um bridge
if you will and have expressed their concerns. So um again concerns all around. It may be a very good project. It may be a real winner. It may not be but you know the worst project in the world is the one that people don't understand and at this point in the city of Cape May and I'll speak for the area
down by the cove. It's not understood. So again, I ask your indulgence here uh to be uh patient with us to you know uh reach out to the community uh make us aware and again maybe this will be a great project or uh maybe it gets u modified in some way or fashion. So
again I thank you for your time and I appreciate your interest. Thank you very much. Jules Rouse 1010 New York Avenue. Um I believe I'm correct in saying this and Mr. Mr. Hurles could may want to com comment that the the housing needs of the city are very well known, but my
understanding is going forward the financial obligation of the city of Cape May is really not uh at issue and uh I'm assuming that's correct. I I didn't I didn't hear you, but not what not an issue is that the financial obligation
from the taxpayers of the city is not really relevant to the improvements that are coming forth for the housing authority. I don't know I don't think that's necessarily true exactly, but so the spending plan provides for what
we have in the affordable housing trust fund that has been generated by development. It's not coming out of the the coffers of the the city taxpayers. It's from developers. So as developers pay their fee, the required fee, it goes into the affordable housing trust fund.
We have to project that out for the next 10 years and devel and develop a spending plan based on that. It also sets aside a maximum of 20% for administrative costs. So, like when I work on your affordable housing plan,
that money is usually paid from that fund as opposed to the city's uh general funds. Okay. So, is did I answer your question? Okay. Thank you. Um my real purpose in in speaking is
directed towards the lease that you're proposing for the welcome center with MAC. MAC is a nonprofit. That's acknowledged. But the pattern in the city has been that the that the nonprofits that rent from the city, they have the obligation
to pay for all their expenses. You're deviating from that practice because you're looking to bear to bear the expenses for MAC with water, sewer, and the electric. And there are some other things that have a monetary
allocation for them. One is there's four parking spaces that we're giving up to MAC that has a that has a value. Trying to project what these costs might cost the city to have this this tenant occupy our building for a dollar a year may run
over $1,000 a month expense for the city. I don't feel that that's that's a good practice to get into. You're you're you're changing the practices that have been in existence for a long time. And if you open that door, you are now going
to be looking for the opportunity for the other nonprofits that participate to to look to the city for assistance with their expenses. So, uh there's there are some other uh idiosyncrasies in the in the lease where um the city has some
obligations to maintain to a certain degree. I don't think they're very well defined because the building the lease calls for the tenant to accept it in in an ASIS condition, but that's not necessarily so because further on in the lease, it calls for the city to be
obligated to make certain improvements. I think the the lease should be re reconsidered and looked at and followed the pattern that has been in existence for a long time. nonprofits, they rent for a dollar, but they have the
obligation to pay for their expenses. Okay. Uh so let we had a closed session on this, which I'm not going to talk about what exactly was discussed or who said what, but everything you just said was discussed. Okay. So every that was all part of the discussion and
negotiation between two different parties. Um, and you're correct in that we have uh lease agreements with MAC at the Physic Estate and we have the tennis club. We have uh the nature center, the Ottabon um
am we we had of course the Chamber of Commerce in this same building with a dollar. I I will quickly on the parking I think it was the same with the the chamber as it is with MAC. Um but their staff needs parking to be there. Okay. So, so that that was the same with the
former tenant as it is with the with the exist with the new um but uh here's the what I see as the difference and this is what was discussed. Um they are staffing that building um specifically to welcome
Kate May guests. Um our other alternatives would be basically paying someone to do that which we felt was a far less of an expense of basically paying the electric bill. Yes, we would pay the sewer to the county, but the
water bill is basically us. Um, but understand those are all real real things and and legitimate and all things we we did discuss. But I will say the difference that I see between Kate May Stage, I think I forgot to mention them.
Um, the this is providing a direct service to uh the welcome center that we would have to provide otherwise. And that is the difference that I see. If I can add to that, the city did something recently.
You talked about the cost that might be coming up. The city did something recently that it hasn't done before, which was it leased excess space on another portion of that building at a market rate. So, the city is now bringing in revenue that it had never
done before, as far as I know, in that building. It's a unique situation, but I think that that confluence of factors was really what it's not really an apples to apples if you compare them to the nature center in that building because it's a welcome center. There's
another tenant in there paying market rent and the reality that the city would have to or would want to staff it itself if there wasn't somebody in there doing that. So, there there was a couple of things. And also, I'll point out, you're not seeing like a 50-year term out the
gate on this. It both parties want to take a two-year look, two calendar year look at how this pans out and then every both parties, the city and MAC want to take a look at how that worked out after the first two years and whether any adjustments need to be made.
I I I understand, but I also know Convention Hall is also a welcome center and that is open to the public for them to to see exactly what's going on. They make a very nice presentation in the hallway in Convention Hall. So, um and
you know, this is a well-located building. It may have a a market use that would uh should maybe come come under consideration. I agree with you. Thank you. Thank you. Stacy Shan, 928 Columbia Avenue. Um, I'm
also up here to talk about the lease agreement with MAC. Um, my question is this. Um, when we had the chamber, they paid for the water, sewer, electric where now we'll be paying for that. But they also
were doing the buses. Are they is Matt gonna be taking over the buses? Yes, they already are. So, okay. So, in other words, they're profiting. They're profiting from the buses, but yet we're going to be paying water and sewer. That's where I feel that, you know, it's
also a very wealthy nonprofit. So for them not to be able to pay for their own utilities and bathroom cleaning to me is something that the taxpayers should not be supporting in that we pay taxes not for a nonprofit to
grow wealthier and stronger for us to pay their utility bills and for them to profit off of our bus permits. At one time the bus permits were done right here in city hall by city workers and then we we we don't even make anything on it. I think they get 100% of the pro
of the fee, isn't that correct? Yes. So, they get 100% which I don't know even is allowed in the government that they don't that we don't just get a portion. So, that's my comment. Do anyone else?
Roz Johnson, 826 Lafayette Street. Um, my question is for the u Mr. Dietrich about the um Lafayette Hall Park. Uh where are we? Last time we spoke you said that um I move this down for you. Okay. Thanks. Last time we spoke you
said um there was no movement and work because you were waiting for the pavilion to come. So is there any news on that? We had met with the contractor trying to encourage him to get out there. He has not yet remobilized, but we're still
communicating him on a weekly basis trying to get him back out to make progress. Uh he has told us that the pavilions won't be shipped to him until the first week in August. So, you know, that's the I'll say the out date that
we're doing, but we're still trying to get him in before then to uh try to button up some of this work and get what what he can get open opened. So the so the timeline maybe is pushed back until the fall. No, if if if they get take delivery, they'll come in in August and
and do the work once they get the pavilions. Oh, okay. Okay. Thank you. And my second comment is that um I got this really nice um informative letter from the public works about how um
recycling is done. I think it was an excellent example of communication between city and residents. It was written decisively. It was written in detail and in a way that I personally could understand. So, I appreciate that and I
think it's a good example, like I said, of communication. Did you write it? Oh, no. No. But thank you for thinking I did. I did write the ordinance. I don't know if that counts. Well, they were all looking at you. be explained.
Yeah. Anyway, a really good example of communication because I'm all about communication between this city and its residents. Thank you. Thank you, Ros. Anyone else wishing to speak this evening, afternoon? Seeing none, we can close public. Thank
you. Thank you everyone. Have a wonderful uh July 4th weekend. Stay safe. Thank you. Thanks. Time is 4