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Video-1: youtube.com/watch?v=piLbeqjEjvA

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You just speak 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, June 16th, 2026. Is now 3 minutes past 3 p.m.

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Please join me 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

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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 at Atlantic City and a copy of the agenda was delivered to each member of city council posted on the city website and city hall bulletin board. Notice is

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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. City of Kate May is not responsible if audio recording or live video streaming of a meeting is unavailable. Roll call. Council member Baldwin

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>> here. >> Council member Bodner >> here. >> Deputy Mayor McDade >> here. >> Council member Meyer >> here. >> Mayor Malik >> here. >> City solicitor Gillan Schwarz >> here. >> City Manager Dietrich >> here. >> Deputy Manager Riggs >> here. >> Deputy Clerk Turner

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>> here. >> And uh council, I do believe we have two additions this evening if you'd like me to go over those. We have resolution 261062026, a resolution of award for bid 26-09, fiscal year 2026, New Jersey Water Bank,

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various sanitary, sewer, and water main improvements. And 26206 2026, resolution authorizing grant application and execution of a grant agreement with the state of New Jersey Department of Environmental Protections for SRF technical assistance and design grant for the lead service line replacement

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project. If we have a motion to add those to the regular 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.

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>> Council member Baldwin? >> Yes. >> Mayor Mullik? >> Yes. >> All right. On to updates in old business council. >> Any updates or old business? Uh, city manager? >> Yes. Thank you. First, um, we had an

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employee, uh, early >> That's right. We had an employee earlier this month reached their 40-year mark with the city. So, I'd like to recognize that, Lenny Ben said, um, from the Department of Public Works. Um, I think he started as a lifeguard. Uh, so that's probably how he got so many years, but

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he's just a a long-standing great employee that's had a lot of dedication for the city, and just would want to just recognize him uh for 40 years of service for the city. It's just a great accomplishment to uh meet that >> name is >> Lenny Benstead. >> Okay. Thank you.

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>> Great job, Lenny. Really >> congratulations. >> Congrats. >> I don't I don't see Chief Ashaw here. So, uh myself, uh Chief Ashaw uh Captain Walker and Lieutenant Christinger went up uh earlier this week uh and met in

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front of the uh police uh chief's uh state accreditation board. And um I'm happy to announce that they voted unanimously to uh uh accept and accredit our police department. I think we have been unacredited for probably six or

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seven years I think maybe eight years. Um that was one of my missions when I came became city manager when I realized that we were not accredited. I felt that it was very important to have an accredited police department. um and making sure, not that I didn't think that they weren't following all the

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policies and procedures, but if something did happen, you know, to have that knowledge that we are following all the most up-to-date policies and procedures at the with our police department. Um and they are and so we got recognized by that. Um we'll be

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scheduling possibly a presentation uh later in August. Uh they'll come down and present the uh city with a plaque uh for that acknowledgement. >> A lot of hard work went into that. So, >> it took about a year and a half to uh update the volumes of different policies. You know, it's truly amazing

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when you look at the number of policies and updates that come down from the attorney general's office on I can't even imagine all the different things that they have to deal with, but it is a large volume of work that all of our officers have to be cognizant of when they're out there on their daily

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job every day. Um, I did have a clarification. So, uh, we are going out to bid for the, um, ADA, uh, project on the at the tennis club. Um, I just want to, you know, we did receive two grants from the DCA for small cities grants and

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that will be essentially we'll be able to that will be extending the sidewalks from uh, Quantis Park up into the tennis club. One path will take you up like kind of between the courts up to their clubhouse. Then and then the path will the sidewalk will continue up through

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the parking lot all the way up through the physics estate and continue all the way up to Washington Street. So we will have a full ADA access from Washington Street to the physics estate through the tennis club and down to Quantis Park. So that that project is getting finally ready to out the bid. Um and just to

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also clarify uh resolution number 240 uh that's a DOT application um uh for Ocean Street. We're looking to uh extend, I'll say, the streetscape uh the same kind of streetscape style that we did on uh Franklin Street. We're looking to extend

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that uh down Ocean Street from Washington Street and head towards Beach Avenue. Um I don't think that that grant will probably get us there, but we may have to do it in a couple years phases, but that that was the intent is to kind of bring that same streetscape style down uh Ocean Street to Beach Avenue.

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Um and that's all I have. >> Well, would that extend down towards the mall? which is >> so so they I think it's it's already been done between Washington and Lafayette. There's already like brick gutters and sidewalks and the brick crosswalks. So that's what we're looking to you know to kind of you know we'll

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we'll send the brick gutters like right now has broken concrete gutter in different places. So we'll replace the concrete gutter with brick and then have the brick crosswalks at Corgi and Columbia and then >> from Washington down to Colombia. Are you intending to go starting at that

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direction? We'll go from Washington and then head towards the beach. Head towards I was just trying to get a >> Yes, that's where Yeah, we'll start the phasing in from Washington and go towards Corgi and then um I mean Hughes and then uh Columbia. >> That's all I had for updates.

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>> Great. Thank you, city manager. City solicitor, any updates or old business? >> I don't have anything tonight. Thank you. >> City council, any updates or old business? >> No. Okay. On to employee of the quarter. So, we did have two listed on the

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agenda. Um, unfortunately, um, Duran Hemingway uh was unable to attend uh from the prior time. So, uh, Duran Hemingway, if if you don't know, she's been here for over 20 years. uh she is essentially the chief's right hand, arm,

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maybe the left leg and everything. So everything that helps you know she kind of helps and make sure that those command staff moves in a positive forward direction and she kind of just keeps that that office humming and moving and she's just a great person. uh she is also one of the leaders and

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coordinators of the uh Christmas wrapping for presents and and it's just amazing how much organization that she can bring and how much I I think joy that she brings to uh you know the the children not just in Kate May city but

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I'll say that the entire lower half of uh Kate May County um that that she now helps coordinate presence out at the during the season. So, um, we recognized her. And then I do believe we have Ian Kelly here. So, I'm going to ask Ian to

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come on up here. You get to be embarrassed and stand next to me while I read read about you. >> Here you go. You get to hold hold that while I talk to. So, he's been Ian's been working for public works department uh since 2019. I started out in the

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buildings and grounds department. Um and he's really just recently uh you know been transferred to traffic maintenance where you know really he has just really stepped up uh his game. uh the I'll say the the the senior person at traffic

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maintenance over the last couple months has been out on paternity leave and Ian has just really stepped up and really worked very hard to you know make sure all our signs are updated learned a lot of information about because we do make all of our signs in house learning the

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computer program to print out and make new signs you know being out there to paint the different sight triangles and different stuff like that so Ian has just really taken in that job and and he's always has a really great positive attitude. Every time you see him out there, he's always got that smile on and

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um he's always out there willing to work. Um in in his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his family, especially his two daughters, his dog, and he loves to be out on the water. So um I just want to congratulate Ian uh and recognize him. So thank you.

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>> There you go. So, while they're taking the picture, I'll just add that um we kind of uh city manager Dietrich and I kind of looked at the employee of the year or the employee of the month program that we have been doing and tried to >> Good job.

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>> Reinvigorate it a little bit, get some different people involved that were um that were not on the committee and tried to really get them more involved and switch things up. So, that's why you'll start to see it employee of the quarter verse employee of the month. and the committee was just getting caught up on

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the first and the second. So, that's the update on that. >> Thank you, Ian. Congratulations. Thank you for all your hard work. >> Thank you, Zach. >> Thank you. >> Appreciate. >> Yep. All right. On to uh presentations. We have a presentation from Atlantic City

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Electric Energy Savings Program, including Ronnie Town. >> Welcome, Ronnie. Good afternoon. I just want to thank you for the opportunity to talk about how people can save on their energy bills. We hear it every day and we are very

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concerned about the billing and how people need to learn to conserve and we're going to learn how to control cost ourselves. So we just wanted to present today our commercial side of and also talk a little bit about the residential

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side on how people can save. So anybody who doesn't know me, I'm Ronnie Town. I'm external affairs manager with Atlantic City Electric and I've been with the company 42 years and been down here in Kate May County for 39 years. So I do understand people's concerns and

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we're very happy to be able to present today. So we have Frank Nikoya who will be presenting. He's the principal uh program manager for energy efficiency and I'm going to stay afterwards. So if anybody wants to talk about the

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residential side, there is some programs out there like free energy assessment that you can get done at your home and some rebates are available. So thank you for the opportunity. Frank, >> welcome Frank. Thank thanks for coming. You wherever you wherever you're more

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comfortable. If you'd like to sit here, that's great. If you could just turn on the little There's a button on that. There you go. >> And you can pick it up. If you could please just speak right into the microphone. It can move. Okay. Nice and close. Yep. Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you, Mayor and Council for having

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us. Again, as Ronnie shared, um Frank Nicasm, principal uh for commercial industrial energy efficiency programs in Atlantic City Electric. I'm going to speak briefly at the end about our residential programs as well. So, I'll start by just simply

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acknowledging as Ronnie shared, right? We we certainly appreciate and understand the everyday issues and cost challenges customers face. Um your your commercial customers certainly are facing aging infrastructure, equipment

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that's beyond useful life. Um certainly we've heard in the news uh the substantial increase in utility expense predominantly related to power um increasing equipment repair costs need

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to reinvest for business growth remaining relevant. So these are all competing needs they have and decisions they need to make. Um, and just something interesting I want to point out and to consider when you think about the life cycle cost of a building, a

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facility, whe whether it's here with the city or your stakeholders that own and operate businesses here in the community over a 40-year life cycle, um, operations is the predominant cost of a building. And if you peel that back

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further, uh, utilities meaning energy, natural gas, sewer, water, etc. is roughly 42% of that operations cost. So it does impact the total cost of ownership and we want to speak briefly

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about how we can help customers impact that cost. A little bit about how these programs made it here. Um this started with the New Jersey Clean Energy Act formed into

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law uh by act and with our former governor. It uh was initiated with all member utilities in 2021. It remains today as trienium 2 which expires June 30th 2027.

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Um and Governor Cheryl and her administration are previously working on a new trienium. So these programs will continue to be in place beyond June 30th, 2027. Just a snapshot of the scale of these

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programs and what we've brought to commercial and industrial customers. Um to give you an appreciation, right, just south of 2,000 projects, um we've paid out um almost $64 million in incentives

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to customers. It's generated uh over 108 million kilowatt hours, which is the equivalent of powering over 13,000 homes annually. And I also want to point out, right, our emphasis on communities that are challenged with overburdened

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communities, right? We are focused on driving and helping those constituents and stakeholders with over 40% participation in those communities where businesses reside. So, a little little bit uh about our

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commercial industrial portfolio. It is very wide and deep. I'll say it can be very overwhelming for customers. That's why I'm here. I've got a team of 30 people behind me to help our customers understand which program is right for

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them. It extends from equipment upgrades to optimizing existing equipment and opportunities to learn. Um, customers can choose to participate in one or all

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of these areas to drive down energy costs by as much as 25% annually. Um, and if first cost is still a challenge beyond the the incentive that

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offsets the first cost, we also offer 0% financing up to 5-year term. Um we also have um an application our website customers can sign up for at no cost business energy manager that helps them

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understand uh with uh more transparency and how they're using their energy and ways to reduce equipment that's included. Think about it this way. Anything behind the meter that's consuming electricity, right?

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lighting, HVAC, heating and cooling systems, commercial kitchen equipment, motors, uh, and temperature and building automation and control systems. Just an update here. um for our public contracting entities such as the city of

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Cape May. Uh we recently received a director from the New Jersey BPU that for K12 public schools, county government, and community colleges, local townships, and municipalities now have access to this direct install for public sector. It's called closed

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network. um that allows public contracting entities access to the direct install program without competitively bidding the work. Direct install is set up for small businesses to medium-size businesses to do

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comprehensive energy retrofits um and it uh had been in conflict with DCA for um public contracting bid laws. So that's been addressed. We now have Atlantic City Electric now has an

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approved tariff um to execute this closed network program. So the city has additional buildings facilities they would like addressed. You can pursue this under this direct install for public sector closed network and really

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get what you want. not necessarily going through a long costly re resource constrained competitive bid process. I do want to point out and congratulate the city right for past participation in our programs. Uh the city has

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participated in two of our programs. prescriptive program where extensive lighting upgrades were done at the Canning House Lane that generated um over 86,000 kilowatt hours of savings uh

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and over a $22,000 incentive, right? Which uh paid for almost 100% of the project. That's pretty amazing. Um and two, the direct install program. This was done at the convention all um total project cost of just north of

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850,000. We incentivize 75% of that and that's quite typical with our direct install programs. On average, we're incentivizing roughly 70% of the total project cost. Very robust.

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>> I don't know why we didn't negotiate that $231 to get that 100%. We'll have to work on that next time. Well, we're looking forward to doing more. So, Mr. Mayor, we can uh we certainly will look forward to doing more. And I know Eric's going to speak

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to some very good work he's doing currently with the city on one of our programs. And I'm not going to steal his thunder. He's uh done some magn magnificent work with the virtual commissioning. Uh I'll close by sharing a few thoughts

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or I should say comments on a residential program. I know we've got some residential customers in here as stakeholders today and I'm sure council and mayor, you're a residential customer as well, right? So, look, we've got um a wide range of residential programs

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available whether it's you're replacing appliances, refrigerators, dishwashers, right? Um we can re not only give you an incentive for recycling those, we have incentives for replacing it with Energy Star equipment, right?

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And two, if you're interested in a more comprehensive approach to your home uh or residence, uh we have what's called our whole home um assessment. Uh that's done by a third-party contractor. They

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will come into your home and do an entire assessment of your home, your heating, your cooling, your lighting, etc., and provide recommendations and opportunities that you can pursue uh with Atlantic City Electric. Uh the

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home weatherization program is a program uh focused on disadvantaged customers. Um there's a QR code up there for customers to learn more on how they can qualify for that as well.

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Uh this is more information on zero prof 0% financing. We do this through a third party. Uh we do not do the financing on Atlantic City Electric's bill. Other member utilities in New Jersey do offer that. We do not. It's through a third

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party. We divide down the interest to 0%. Okay. For qualified customers. Uh this is our contact information for uh commercial industrial. I'm here. I'll stay with Ronnie. If anyone should have

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any additional questions, please reach out for additional information. Thank you again for having us. >> Thank you very much, Frank. >> That's great. Thank Thank you very much. Thank you, Ronnie. Thank you for being here and we appreciate you staying behind. We'll try not to be too long for

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you. Okay, on to um ordinances for introduction. >> Eric has >> Oh, I'm sorry. Oh, I saw energy savings and I thought, okay. So, yeah, go ahead, Eric. I'm sorry. >> No problem. >> Eric and Rich, welcome. Thank you very

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much for being here. >> So, it's going to be hard to follow Frank from AC. Um, so we received an email from Atlantic City Electric probably back midappril uh that something city manager forwarded over to me to take a little cruise through. And

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so we put together just a small savings of what we put in place for the month of May for our three buildings, Kate May Convention Center, the community center, and city hall. So uh what we're here

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today is the power takeoff is one of the programs for AC electric for commercial accounts. So what is power takeoff is an energy management software company that partners with utilities like Atlantic City Electric

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and this is a free free service for commercial accounts. So getting into the to the start of it is they work alongside of us with the smart meters tell us different set points. So that's where Rich came into place with setting

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certain set points in the buildings when they're not occupied to have energy savings. So we'll go into the first building which is uh KMA Convention Center. So this is the month of May. The left side of the bar graph is last year's energy. the right hand

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side is this year this year. So, and all in all, we saved just for the month of May a little under 1,100 bucks for the month of May's electric bill. Um, if it is continues to trend the way we're thinking, we can have an estimated savings about 12 grand for the year of

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energy. >> That's HVAC system. >> That's the HVAC system that they showed on the direct. Yes. That we've been working on for the past two years. So yes that is has a big factor to do it to with it. The other factor is like I said setting now that we have access to the

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controls in the system we set our own set points. So with the help of AC electric telling us what set points we should put at and it runs as a program. So you know 7:00 in the morning it comes on and kicks on to go to cool off before everybody gets in. When everybody leaves it goes back to a unoccupied set point.

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Um, so for the month of for the month of May, we actually dropped the the consumption uh down almost 10%. Uh, next building we get into is city hall. So again, left-hand side is last

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year's, right hand side's this year. Uh, we lowered city hall's electric bill about 225 bucks for the month of May with the consumption rate dropping down 14%. Uh, our biggest savings is the community center.

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We knocked that down 283 bucks and we got a consumption savings of 41%. So, we're almost at half half of what we paid last year versus this year. And the temperatures all been the same. I think this year we actually have one degree

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difference in the month of month of May versus last year. So these are from what uh Winston from Atlantic City Electric these are an actual savings of what we have. So with this with this kind of work that you know moving in me Rich and

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myself um now going to probably pass the buck over to Rich and let him run with Winston with the rest of our buildings in in town. >> Yeah. To see what we see what we got >> and Rich. Yeah. So that's

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>> Do you have a schedule or an idea what buildings you'll be doing yet next? No, you're fine. You're good. >> No, not yet. >> Not yet. So >> no, we haven't had a chance to discuss it. >> Um some buildings probably a bigger challenge than others like say DW complex, >> right?

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>> Um that's that's going to be a big challenge. >> Okay. >> Um the other buildings relatively straightforward. Okay. >> So it's just simple of getting there and changing it. These three buildings that we picked were one of the easiest to do because we have control systems in place, >> right? >> So then it's just a matter of just spending the time going over the

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scheduling >> and coordinating with the staff so they can make adjustments during the major events at convention hall. >> Yeah. >> Or even the community center, >> right? >> So like if you go if we go back to the convention the convention center, I mean I believe

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Tuesday to Friday, I think that was Jazzfest. So we were actually kind of lower than what we were last year for Jazzfest. >> So any questions, comments? >> Great job.

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>> The one question I do have though, um this new program, does it take into account uh the the temp the the you know the outside temperature? >> That's what and on the bottom it's hard to see on the bottom right hand side the difference the difference. I think it was one degree I think. You're Yeah,

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you're looking at degree temperatures which are going to fluctuate from year to year. >> I think last May was 58 degrees. This May was 59 was that? >> Okay. So, it was pretty pretty >> pretty close. >> Close. Okay. Yep. Okay. I couldn't see that. So, thank you. >> For each of these buildings, the each computer program has access to the

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outside air temperature at all times. So, it knows when to activate boilers and when to back off just so the differential is not too much because conventional is a pretty complex system. >> So, we need all that information. That's why it took so long to get everything up up and running.

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>> That's great. Maybe um lifeguard headquarters. >> Yeah. So So we had we got we got a couple couple I was thinking fire department lifeguard headquarters. >> Uh maybe beach uh beach tag office, >> you know, and then kind of move from there. And like Rich said, I think DPW

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and the and the water the water del going to be a little bit of a tricky one cuz there's such a great job. >> So there's it's going to be a little tricky one because there's multiple multiple meters back there. >> Okay. But um but yeah, I think you know Firehouse is plain plain and simple. >> Yep.

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>> And >> so most like like I said, we'll probably jump on to Firehouse >> Lifeguard Beach Patrol headquarters and go from there. >> And that way you can have you'll be all teed up for when the police station opens up. >> Correct. And then we'll hope hope we'll be back at the end of the year and kind

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of show where we're at between all the buildings that we've been doing for the past six months to show you know show savings. >> That's great. Well, the police station once that's complete, it should be relative because that is I look through all the plans and they have the exact same systems going in for controls and everything like that. So,

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>> that's great to hear. Yep. >> That'll just be and exterior access so I don't have to get signed in the control room. >> So, that's all we got. >> Okay, great. >> Great work. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Great work. Okay, so we're on to

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ordinances for introduction. >> Thank you. Good night. Yes, we have 605-2026 ordinance amending chapter 7 of the Kate May city code regarding metered parking and >> I'm sorry. >> It's okay. >> One one other thing. Um Eric

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uh what just while you're here because I I I know you're running out. Um the is boardwalk uh the prominade uh painting happen tomorrow. >> So to so just so we can announce that go ahead. >> It's it's tenatively scheduled. Obviously, the the I don't know if the m

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material is if if everybody's out at the end of Beach Avenue and at Madison, if the material's been delivered out there when you see the big tubs, it'll start that next day. So, it if it's gotten moved out there, I didn't get a chance to get out there this afternoon or get

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confirmation, but tenatively is supposed to start tomorrow morning. That's the seal coat for the new asphalt on the uh prominade. >> I did receive a phone call at the end of the day to drop the barricades off down there. So, I'm assuming between tomorrow

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and tomorrow should be they should be >> coming in. Let me So, they did call this afternoon to drop off the barricades for the right the spots to put the material at. So, I'm assuming the material should be showing up sometime today or uh or tomorrow. on my way out, I'll drive by

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and take a look and I'll shoot a text message to either the deputy, the city manager or city manager. >> And do you think it'll be done by the weekend or what do you think? >> So, it's a question. >> They'll be they'll be starting at the cove and working their way uh east. No, they will most likely not be able to

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finish in 3 days, but most likely what will happen is because they're going to kind of leave spots for people to cross across the prominade at different spots as they work down. They're probably have to go back in and as the one spot cures go back and get I'll say those little stripe spots. So I think there's going

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to be I think they're going to have to maybe one a day next week. >> Okay. >> To uh kind of finish it up. >> That's great. >> I mean now if they have perfect perfect weather >> and everything cooperates out there in the field

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maybe. But that's if everything goes >> perfect. And again, just so everyone knows what we're talking about, that's a seal coat that goes over the asphalt that is lowers it >> has a major drop in temperature, which obviously we know it can get very hot this time of year. So, thank you.

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>> Some some spots be a 20 degree difference, >> right? >> From the last time we did it. >> Yeah, we we did we shot. >> Yep. >> Um >> and that um also um not only the temperature drop, but um

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it's a better seal coat. We had to wait what was it Paul? 30 days before even being able to do this. That's the reason for the timing. >> Yeah. >> All right. Thank Thanks, guys. Appreciate it. >> Okay. Sorry to run interrupt. >> No worries. So, yeah, we have an

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ordinance for introduction 605-2026 ordinance amending chapter 7 of the Kate May city code regarding metered parking and incorporating private parking lot use agreements. If you have a motion to introduce. >> Do I have a motion? >> I'll make the motion. >> Do I have a second? >> I'll second. Any questions or comments,

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council? >> This this is um this is for the um park mobile use. >> It's can I get I'll just give you guys a brief the the reason for this ordinance is just to

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>> recognize that maybe we're getting into the time frame where we're standard standardizing the practice of entering into private public parking lot usage agreements. So, in order to avoid having to update the ordinance every time we

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come up with a new agreement, we this is sort of an umbrella ordinance to cover any future agreements, including the ones that are on the agenda tonight. >> Um, Ocean View has its own ordinance. Cape Island Baptist is sort of unique

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and has its own ordinance. So, those those will remain. They're not being deleted, but just if we come up with any future agreements, they would fall under this new umbrella ordinance. And it would just and those would still come before council, but it would avoid us having to go through a first and second reading every time we come up with

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basically the same agreement. >> And and it is turning out, you know, we have, as you say, we have two more, you know, properties in town that are looking to to kind of join in and and share some of their parking that that are maybe underutilized or utilize, you know, when they don't need it. Um, so

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it's it's a great opportunity and we appreciate our business community working with the city on this public private partnership. This is this is a really good thing. We're adding more uh parking spaces to uh public parking that weren't available um previously.

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Obviously, that's bringing in new tax revenue and revenue and um and giving people more places to park. So, it's a good thing. And I'll just add on that um after we received the award last year um through the DCA for this program,

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>> about a half dozen other communities throughout the state of New Jersey reached out to me and asked how did we do this? >> Don't tell them. >> So, um I didn't give them all the secrets, made them work for it a little bit, but it's really taken off and other communities have recognized the work that we're doing as well.

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>> Okay, >> that's great. >> Great. >> All right, we have a first and second. Any questions or comments, council? Roll call. >> Council member Meyer. >> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor McDade. >> Yes. >> Council member Bodner. >> Yes. >> Council member Baldwin. >> Yes.

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>> Mayor Mullik. >> Yes. >> All right. Moving on to public portions on resolutions only. Mayor, >> is anyone here wishing to speak on resolutions this evening? Any of the resolutions, please come up to the microphone, state your name and address for the record.

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Uh my name is John Lynch, 714 Corgu Street. I uh my wife and I own the house right behind this southern mansion. I was here last last meeting I guess that was uh why I get organized here. I'll fill some voids mean the recent recipient of

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the longest father of the bride speech. I'm going to read something here rather than uh drag through it. I also have some handouts which is going to help us go right through this very quickly. Um I think where we are first of all let me say when we were last here I was up here describing all the problems we had with

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the southern mansion. we got this and all these issues going on and the neighbors are concerned and if you would ask me why am I here representing neighbors it's a good question but but I am um last Thursday I came down and uh I came

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back in that evening late after getting phone calls from the neighbors on Tuesday and Wednesday that the uh there's violations going on and I came I came down and sure enough there were violations going on and I went to bed and And then I feel my piss wall as I

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and then I I woke up. I didn't wake up. I just got up and said, "This is crazy. I'm being told >> Mr. Lynch, could you speak into the microphone, please? >> Thank you." >> That better? >> You can pick it up. Yeah. Thank you. >> Okay. >> So, so we had a uh an unsatisfactory

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Thursday night. I woke up on Friday morning after no sleep basically and said this is crazy. I'm it seemed to be betw twix in between a bunch of different views taking place and I don't have a solution. So I uh I text Barbara Wild around 7:15 that

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morning before coffee. Maybe if I had coffee I wouldn't have done it but I did it. And within about 10 seconds she was back saying yes. And the yes was to my question. Do you want to get together and do you want to talk talk through what's going on? And we did do that with

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uh Hamilton, her daughter as well. And my wife and I met met at their facility when Friday afternoon had a great meeting. They were gracious. They were they were inviting. But more importantly, the ground rules were why don't we work towards coming up with

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a cooperative way to work together? And I'm not we're not trying to cut the city out, but it was meant to be the neighbors in the southern mansion because it just seemed like it was it was going off the rails in many different directions. Uh and I think we

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I know I know we had a what I thought was a I know we had a great conversation. We covered all the points and we left that with the understanding that we I would take a a shot at drafting an agreement that would be called the cooperative

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agreement. time was too short. I mean, drafts couldn't get circulated. So, that didn't get done. Hence, I have to be here again to bring up to bring up the issues we were discussing. Um, I think where we really are, we don't have I don't think we have any

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disagreement on this cooperative effort going forward, how this how we're going to handle the issues. I think where we are this evening is or this afternoon is the applicant feels they don't need to provide for any other conditions which I'm requesting of you and I feel that

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it's the residents the neighbors not only are they entitled to them they they deserve them based upon the 2022 resolution. So let me let me walk you through that the reasoning if you would please turn to the resolution of 2022.

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Barbara and Ham Hamilton. Remember what happens here tonight? We're working in the cooperative effort. Okay? Nothing's changing. I'm just trying to get conditions in to the record and you're saying no. And I that's fine. Go back to the 2022 resolution

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at the bottom of the page. I I four or five places on these pages. I cir I circled I label them. A at the bottom of page one, it says in light of the special proposed conditions, the application will be granted. The special proposed conditions are conditions some

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of which which were negotiated directly with the neighbors through the council of the applicant. You then go forward next page by circling B. This resolution states the license subject to all its terms and conditions

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is hereby transferred. The license referring to is the liquor license where the where the neighbors came together instead of opposing it. We were trying to work cooperatively with them. Go down to C. This license mean the liquor license is subject to all terms and

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conditions is hereby transferred to the premises of 720 Washington Street. Okay. D be it further resolved by the city Kate me as the issuing authority that within the approval of the transfer subject to special conditions keep going

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which are detailed in in July 13 22 and July 28th supplements. >> Excuse me. >> What this is telling you mayor excuse me I'm sorry. Seeing as the mayor has recused himself, deputy mayor, it has been five minutes. Thank you. >> I missed that. What? >> The We usually try and um maintain

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comments at at a five minute mark. >> I'm moving. I'm moving. >> Okay. >> So So the res the resolution clearly states that the neighbors were involved. That's that's how the the applicant came to us saying and we met at the southern mansion. We met twice with neighbors

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saying these are concerns. How can we address them? The conditions were were were approved. turn to the work the work session meeting that I gave you page three uh top of three it deals with a letter that I wrote which means I'm a party to this

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process my wife and I B is where the the applicant's lawyer uh summarizes various proposed conditions as a result of meetings with the neighbors neighboring residents again the neighbors were in were in the process of how this this this transfer

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of liquor license happened. Uh C again the applicant's lur states the following previous meeting he has met with and discussed with neighboring residents regarding their concerns and has drafted an updated plan and as a result of he agrees to introduce as part

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of the license conditions these are the special conditions I didn't draft those conditions council for the applicant drafted those conditions go to the next page D is self-explanatory where I thank the the applicant's lawyer for hosting these meetings

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Top of the next page there's E. Your city solicitor states liquor license are renewed by the council annually. If issues arise, the conditions or permission for the license can be addressed at that time. So it was not a static approval. It was meant to be an annual renewal where issues would be

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addressed. That was the understanding of all the neighbors. That's that's what we spoke. We were all here listening to the record. And at the bottom, I'm sorry, under F, it says, "Council Meer, council member Meyer, Mir Meyer states, permitting the applicant the

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liquor license gives council more authority to regulate and enforce the imposed conditions." Okay. And finally, at the bottom, we had council member Jagger reminds the council they are only voting on whether to approve the liquor license transfer, and if it passes, the city will have more control. So the

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liquor license transfer was tied into city having control. It was tied into the resident's concerns having been incorporated into the record. So the record speaks very clearly the neighbors are here. I mean if if you choose to be

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they choose to be ignored by a governing body, well that's that's a choice. But the record speaks to the fact the neighbors were involved. The applicant welcomed the neighbors into those conversations to get what they wanted. And I'm saying those conditions still exist now, next year,

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the year after. They didn't put any stipulation on this. These things are continuous. They're evergreen. So next year, if things are unressed, we'll be back again is by by definition. So what's all this mean? When I read this, it shows that the neighbors concerns were real.

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Negotiations occurred. Conditions were added because of those concerns. Neighbors relied upon those conditions when supporting council's approval. The conditions were not ins in incidental details but were but were material inducements that help secure neighbor support for the approval the applicant

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saw. Council relied upon the conditions and the cord street number neighbors relied upon the conditions when when the granny approval. The final resolution did not simply approve a transfer. The expressly states the transfer is subject to special conditions contained in the

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13th and the 28th of July. They remain with their liquor license going forward. So if the if the approval for the transfer anticipated changes conditions to be

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amended over time as issues arose, what time is is are you proposing to do that if not now with the renew at the renewal? your city solicitor said at the time of renewal. That's what we we thought was going to happen here. So, >> Mr. Lynch, let me let me um just pause

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for a moment here. So, our understanding the last time that you were here was that you and the neighbors were going to reach out to Miss Wild to have a conversation. We did. Okay. And you mentioned at the beginning of your statement that you've had a what you

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consider a cooperative discussion, >> correct? and that a document was supposed to have been drafted. >> Correct. >> Okay. Um I understand that Mr. um Dietrich that you went out with code enforcement and a representative from the police department to assess the

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current the conditions that are certain currently tied um based on these special conditions in the um document from 2022. Um can you give us a summary of what >> that review? So, we went out and uh met

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with uh Miss Wild and Wild um inspected the property, reviewed the the property based on the subject conditions. Obviously, um by the time we did our inspection, uh some of the items that

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Mr. relian residents had had noted that we're I'll say not in compliance with some of the strict conditions had been corrected and modified which that's that's typical like when we have and that's why we go out and do inspections and if we find something we ask the

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property you know the the business owner to make the corrections and if the corrections are made we note that and you know that's a positive thing. Um so no enforcement action was taken. So, some of the comments that that were rectified, you know, by the time we got there was the no smoking signs were

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placed. There are no chairs out there to be placed. Uh the uh we inspected at night, the lighting was not lit up on the patio. I I know that there's some confusion of, you know, our lighting standard is just because you can see a light doesn't

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mean that's a violation of light. It's the light trespass as it leaves the property. Um it was inspected in the evening by both police and by code enforcement and that there was no light trespass. I'll say leaving the property.

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Uh the only lit the lights that were under the condition were the lights that I'll say that illuminated the patio area for seating. And the intent of that condition was that people would not be congregating after dark in that seating area out on that patio. That's also why

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they had the no smoking signs there is they didn't want that reason where there was going to be people congregating there smoking after in evening hours. Um so both of those conditions are met. There is a a line of string lights along the building, but that lighting provides

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I'll say basic minimum lighting around the building for security and safety for passage. If because this is a a facility that provides accommodations, if there's emergency exits both on the rear and the sides of the building that if somebody

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is circulating around the building, they have to do so safely. So there needs to be some minimum basic lighting to provide security and safety for walking about the building. Uh the lighting that is the condition is for congregating and

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and for utilization and that lighting was not on. Um so when we looked at and reviewed the site as it has the conditions they are satisfactory uh met. I I do agree that you know

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these conditions obviously were of put into place in 2022. They've been in place every year since 2022. Obviously a week before the the prior meeting the residents came and you know

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notified the city, hey they're not meeting some of their conditions. We appreciated that notification and um you know went out and made sure that they were corrected. That is you know that is not how I wanted that interaction to happen because we

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shouldn't have to rely on and the residents shouldn't have to rely on them finding the problems with the conditions and them coming to the city at the I'll say the the last 9th hour before we're looking at approval to try to rectify this. So, I actually had a meeting with

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staff uh this week uh to to look at we are going to I'm asking code enforcement and police department and zoning officer to review all of the conditions of all of the liquor licenses, all 28 liquor licenses that we do. And they are going

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to make periodic and routine inspections of all facilities throughout the year. uh so that they have a document and an inspection so that they can identify these types of concerns that Mr. Lynch and you know some of his fellow

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neighbors you know can rely on that the city's going to be proactive in making sure that we're enforcing those regulations and not waiting for the residents to come in at this juncture because this isn't when we want to kind of hash out these things because you

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know really up until now the Southern Mansion had had really no issues of non-compliance or uh >> no known >> no no notices or calls for hey problems up until

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the last two weeks 3 weeks. >> All right. So uh Mr. uh Gillan Schwarz I note on the special conditions 12 13 14 and 15 those are uh sort of highlighted as the ones that the neighbors I guess

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requested to be included. I so there's no proposed change to the conditions. These conditions were put in place by >> and through as Mr. Lynch correctly points out

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>> there was some pretty heavy discussions about these conditions and there was two letters from the applicants council sort of laying this out after all these discussions to to help kind of marry this to the property. We haven't touched that since this was adopted.

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>> Right. That's my point. Great effort with the applicant and neighbors and council to kind of put this together, but since it was first authorized, we haven't touched it. So, I guess my question maybe to Mr. Lynch is is there

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an is there an ask to council to change something here or is is there some discussion? >> That's my point. Yes. >> I apologize for taking things so long. I was trying to show the history how we got here. >> Yeah. First of all, I want to put the umbrella around here. >> Just to be clear, deputy mayor, it has >> total cooperation here. So, I don't

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expect that you're going to be getting phone calls from the neighbors because we're trying to stop that and we're trying to direct it all to Barber and sheet in in Hamilton and we have a central number. So, don't expect to see a lot of noise from us. The the two the there are three conditions we're asking you to consider. Two of which actually

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they're already doing doing a great job even since last Friday. One was the kitchen exhaust fan runs 24/7. We met with them on Friday. I believe it's simply a matter of having the discipline to turn off the exhaust fan when the kitchen is not in use as allowed for and

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they've done it because already neighbors are saying it's it's much better. >> Okay. >> So, it's a condition they already met. I'm just in asking it be included as part of the condition. >> Okay. >> Second is uh directing deliveries away from Corgi Street.

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>> Right. Again, I learned when I was there uh last Friday, that's already their policy, except things don't always go >> well, delivery drivers going to go where they find the >> So, we we accepted that. But on all sides last Friday, we said, "Yeah,

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that's right." >> But then they made an ask of me, which I thought was educational. They said, you know, neighbors call up and they I don't know who they are. They scream and they yell and they hang up the phone. They don't tell us who they are. They don't tell us what the truck was. There's no

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identification. So that leaves this other mansion. >> Can't react to that. >> Can't react. Right. So they have asked me to go back to the neighbors, which I'm going to do. >> Mhm. >> And say, "Listen, here's a central number to call. But when you call, please leave a number if it's after hours, and give them a description of

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the truck, whether it's a name of a truck or or something. And with that information they can then go back so that over time a new driver comes in those types of mistakes will will lessen. >> Okay. All right. >> So again the last one which is the

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handout you just got which is probably the most important one >> and I explained this to Barbara and Hamilton last week because this one's in everyone's face every day and it's the hedge row. >> Can I can I ask a quick question before you continue? Um, McKenna site

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management. Who is that in relation to the property or in relation to you? >> They're in relation to the property. Nothing more. They came down as a favor to me to do an inspection. Why? I planted probably in caused or actually planted in excess of 5,000 trees and

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shrubs in my career. I'm a tree nut. I mean, I donated trees for the shader mission. I put 30 crate murals in at the post office. I'm a nut when it comes to this stuff. But I I don't pretend I have the expertise to give you I don't pretend I could come here and say this

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is the condition of the hedro. So this these people or contractors I've used in the past and they said can you come down and just give an assessment. I'm not saying you should accept this to be an expert. >> And that's why I asked because there are recommendations in here that I wanted to find out the qualifications who they

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were. They're just they're a site management company that you hired >> to just >> didn't hire came they just came down. Okay. So, they visually inspected it and made their recommendations. >> But the important thing to know without going through this, >> the city manager came out and said things look good and maintained.

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>> He didn't go there, but he's not far off. He he came out and he said, you know, the these this hedge is as a hardy plant. It's been around a long time. There's evidence that it used to be a double hedro, which was common in your ordinance, a double row of of hedges being planted on 30in centers, and some

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of them have disappeared without being replaced. If you look at his recommendations below the line, really what this hedro needs is some TLC. That's really it comes down to. It needs some mulch to go down in the early season to help control moisture. It needs fertilizer to go in. It needs some

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rejuvenative planting. So, I'm asking you to look at these these suggestions and either adopt them or adjust them, whatever you see fit, or have the so the man should hire their own person. I I don't care. >> I have another question. Another

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question for you. Have you shared this document with the southern mansion? >> I gave it to him this morning. Whether this afternoon? Yes. >> Okay. So, I think Mr. Lynch, it's reasonable for um us to consider deliveries going on Corgi and the fact that the exhaust fan, you know, would

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be, you know, a concern or condition potentially. And I'll I'll, you know, look to the to to the uh city solicitor for that. When it comes to property maintenance, I think we're we're sort of bleeding into an area that's not really, I think, the recommendation. I think

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trying to work with Miss Hamilton and her team uh would be appropriate, but to make it a condition of a liquor license, in my opinion only, is a bit of a stretch for this council to take on and included in this. I appreciate the fact that it you've got something that's

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documented and I I think it's, you know, something to discuss and have some conversations about, but I think it's a little challenging for us to look at this and say that mulch has to go down and a balanced feeding program and all of those kinds of things. >> So, I'll add to that.

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>> Thank you, Mr. Gro. >> So, thank you. >> The hedge the hedge maintenance is already something that's built into as >> Mr. Tro >> the hedge um one more time with feeling the hedge

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is part of it's already incorporated as one of the conditions in there it was already a discussion item but I do um see the deputy mayor's point about we're sort of veering into botney and you know >> agriculture >> you know getting away from liquor which

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is really what this this stuff is geared towards there's certainly a purpose for it being included and a rational basis for it being included included. Um, but I think what the city manager is in is indicating is that >> I think code enforcement may have a way

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of speaking to the property owner, speaking to the neighbors about that, but that's that's more of a that's more of a fluid condition in here than maybe turning off the exhaust fan in relation to the operations or routing deliveries away from Corgi Street. To the extent that's not in here,

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>> I'd like to I'd like for council to hear from the Apple. Certainly they'll have they'll have an opportunity to speak as well. >> Just some of this may not even be in dispute and if we can narrow that down that might be helpful too. >> Okay. Thank you, Mr. >> I just would follow up. I my recommendation is you know those three

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items they're more site plan issues that are not really directly related to the ABC license as far as its operation and and our code enforcement and >> zoning officer are fully equipped to be able to handle those questions on that routine basis as part of the enforcement

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of a site plan just like every other commercial site plan in the city not having a ABC license to >> I'd like to I'd like to give um Miss Wild an opportunity for f >> can I finish real quick? >> I'd like to make a comment before we keep go off this topic. I think the

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hedro is relative to the ABC license because it is a form of a barrier that keeps the patrons from you know leaving the property with alcohol. I think one of the comments that Mr. Lynch had was that the guests were going right through >> the hedge at the last meeting.

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No, but the the condition of the hedro which was the hedge of budding and cord shall be maintained and replaced within a reasonable time if it dies. It's it's it was dealt with already. The issue is nothing's been done for four years. And if you look at the photographs of the

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existing conditions today, you can see there's dead branches, there's debris, there's trash cans against it. None of which do I think are a big deal. None of this I think is a big deal. And I've encouraged M. Mr. Dedridge, let us work this out.

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>> But in the interim, we have we do have for on the table for tonight. >> The application No, no, no. The the application, >> right, >> is on for our agenda for this evening. So I I think we would like to have five

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minutes from Miss Wild to talk about what has been brought up here um and and what you're representing that you would be um willing to compromise on and and so that we could move forward on this. >> Thank you. >> I don't have another question. I am prepared to offer to pay 50% of the cost

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of the the plans that are being recommended. >> Okay. >> We have donated other landscaping around here. I'm happy to do it if that's an issue. >> Okay. Well, let le let's give them an opportunity to respond. Thank you. >> Thank you. Uh Hamilton Wild on behalf of

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the New Jersey Farmers Cooperative Group, LLC, which owns the liquor license cited at 720 Washington Street, better known as the Southern Mansion. Yes. So, I learned of I actually learned of the challenge to the renewal on June

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5th when I met with Mr. Dietrich, uh, the code enforcement officer and the ABC liaison for the city. So, that was the first time that I even found out that there had been a challenge to the license. Um, I had I didn't realize that was the situation. I was aware going

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into the meeting that concerns brought up uh to code enforcement. So, um, that that's what I went into it with the expectation of. Um, we walked the property, all four of us. Uh, we did go to the back of the property. Um, we tried to listen for whatever the exhaust

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sounds could be. As far as I'm aware, none of us were able to identify a noise. Um, we looked at the hedges, we looked at the back patio section, and we looked at all of the lighting. Code enforcement also informed me at that time that they had previously come out

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in the evenings to investigate the lighting. Um, at the end of that meeting, I was informed that everything they reviewed appeared to be in full compliance with the conditions on the liquor license. With that being said, following the meeting, uh, we wanted to make sure that we were doing everything

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on our end that we could to maintain compliance. So, and I do I only have two copies of these with me. Um I was told that it would be sufficient just to have copies um provided to the solicitor and

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clerk. But what I do have here are uh three memos and two of these memos are from the management of the Southern Mansion. Uh, one of them is to all employees. Um, just reminding them that the Southern

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Mansion is a 100% smoke-free property and workplace. We do not allow any smoking on site now. Um, and essentially just instructing uh staff on what they should do in regards to smoking if they are nicotine dependent, providing non-smoking alternatives, and also

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making it clear um that you they cannot smoke anytime during work hours. The reason that was specified is because um concerns from the neighbors were that in full compliance with the liquor license, they weren't necessarily smoking on the patio, but they were going into the

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public street to smoke, which is perfectly legal. Either way, our manner of addressing that or I should say the Southern Mansion's manner of addressing that is if you're scheduled to work, you cannot work dur or smoke during your shift. Um then there is also a memo that

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I issued to my employees uh those who handle um any alcohol which essentially reiterated this is the policy of our landlord the Southern Mansion. This is what's expected of their employees. We must remain in compliance with that. So the same is um expected of you. Then the

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second memo from Southern Mansion was issued to its kitchen employees and this was um based on the assumption that the ventilation noise was um coming from the kitchen hood. Uh this was something that I thought once the issue was brought to

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me by Mr. Dietrich, I thought maybe that's a possibility um because we have there's a manual switch in that kitchen um that operates the hood fan. With that being said, um this memo was issued to employees on June 8th. Uh we met with

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Mr. Lynch this immediate past Friday. So I believe that was the 12th. Um at that time he said that to the best of his knowledge there were still ongoing complaints about that kitchen hood. That afternoon after meeting with him I went out to Southern Mansion again. I walked

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the property this time by myself. Um, again trying to hear any strange noises. Um, my mother, Miss Wild, she reached out to Mr. Lynch at that time, said I was there in case he wanted to come over and try to identify the sound to me. He

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was busy at that time. Again, I didn't hear any sounds that evening. However, the next morning, I did get a text from Mr. Lynch saying that whatever I did had completely resolved the noise. >> Okay. So, at this point, we still don't know

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what caused the noise, but we do know it was not the kitchen exhaust fan because it was off during um the entire previous week when supposedly there were still ongoing complaints and suddenly it was no longer a noise issue.

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So, I'll leave that as it is. Um, with that being said, we've been found to be in compliance with the conditions on the license. We intend to remain in compliance with those conditions. We're not particularly open to adding any additional conditions because we feel that we've sufficiently addressed them

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and the best way to continue to address them is open communication with our neighbors. Um, and aside from that fact, it is important to remember that some of these conditions again are unrelated to the liquor license. Um, some of them are

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more so attempts to control the non-licker- related business operations of my landlord, the Southern Mansion. Um, and that's essentially where we are on that. So, we are in compliance. Um, I'm happy to answer any questions. Um,

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so I'll leave it to you. >> I have a question. So, you were you were res given this? >> I received that right after we did the pledge of allegiance this afternoon. >> Okay. Are there any responses based on this document? Um my initial responses

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are that we're in a severe drought and we just came off of pretty serious winter storms. So I think making plans to some of those things this instant are nearly impossible uh once we especially because

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we're also in an El Nino season. So um I think that hedge is probably going to look pretty rough all summer unless the sidewalks ripped up. uh huge amounts of irrigation are installed at a significant cost to my landlord. Um and

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even then that's not a guarantee with our current conditions. If we go into the fall, yes, we want the property to look good. It's in the best interest of the business, but I don't necessarily think that the exact manner in which that's administered is something that should necessarily be dictated by the government so long as we are in

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compliance with existing uh zoning and code enforcement restrictions. Okay. Mr. Gillan Shores, anything um to add to that with regard to >> We have a follow-up question for for Miss Wild. Um it it sounds like you had

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sent a memo out to the employees about the exhaust fan. It seemed like these are my words, not yours or anybody else's, but it seems like sort of a minor adjustment tweak to operations communication. Um, that being the case,

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would the applicant have any objection if council simply added a condition saying that the kitchen exhaust fan will be turned off after food service? >> In theory, no. However, based on what I've actually seen, it appears that the

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kitchen exhaust fan actually was unrelated to the noise because the sounds were off. The fan was off for an entire week straight and neighbors were still reporting that the sound was ongoing. However, after the neighbors found out that I personally walked the property, suddenly it disappeared when

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the conditions internally and the actions performed by the employees were the same. So, in my opinion, I don't think the exhaust fan at our at this property was the cause of this noise and I don't think anything at the property was the cause of this noise, which at this point I still have not heard.

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>> Mr. Gillan Schwarz, if I could ask you a question. Is there our uh city code? Do we have is there something what would be in the city code that would address that specific issue as far as a violation regarding >> um we have we have >> is there something that would address that

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>> absent absent a a special condition. We we have we have a noise ordinance. We have a intrusive lighting ordinance. we we do have general provisions to fall back on here if not I was simply trying to point out maybe areas where there

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isn't really much dispute and I understand um look frankly I understand the the there's some frustration here on both sides and I I I think the city sees that I see that I'm I'm trying to eliminate maybe some of the smaller type

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areas that just aren't in dispute and something like turning off an exhaust fan arguably is related to service at at the location and it's something verifiable that if you can just turn it off, it's kind of easy to verify that it's not the cause of some other noise or something like that. >> I'm also mentioning it because it gives

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an opportunity for the residents that live in the area when this when this is on to make a telephone call, you know, to contact code enforcement to address that so they can get or to contact directly to, you know, to

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manion to just say, >> "Hey, just as a reminder, you know, it needs to be off. I know that you know there's different ways to go to go about this uh that have been suggested but you know one that may be sure you may be in compliance with the hedge but it sounds

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like you know >> or maybe the neighbors need to re-record the noise so that they can show verification. I mean it seems that there's a disconnect between what Miss Wild is experiencing and and what you guys are not to say that you're not both right. It just is the circumstances of

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the moment. So, I mean, I would strongly suggest that be, you know, so that there's verification of what the noise is and perhaps being able to have it, you know, localized. >> Can I say >> Sure. >> Can I say I've I've had a lot of

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experience closing kitchens and it's very customary that that's the last thing you do before you walk out the kitchen. You leave the the the grill on the cooking appliances on. You clean it up. You clean the grill. You have to let everything cool off. You know,

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usually when you going out checking everything, everything's, you know, buttoned up. The last second to last thing you do is turn off the hood and all of a sudden it's quiet in the kitchen, which is a nice feeling. And then you turn off the lights and you head on out. I have never worked in a kitchen that that's not the case. I don't think any business owner would

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like to have, speaking of conserving electricity, appliances running that don't need to be. So, and I think I think you've uh solved the problem with that memo in my personal opinion. >> And and I just I I I guess I would my recommendation is we approve this tonight with the conditions as stated. I

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think the city is going to take a more proactive stance of inspecting all of our liquor license facilities. you know, considering we had no complaints from 2022 to three weeks ago, I think that's a long track period of, hey, those

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conditions seem to have worked and didn't really have any violations that let the process work and then if we continue to have issues before the renewal of next year, code enforcement, police department, my office will can make recommendations of enhancing or

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revising those uh special conditions at the renewal for next here. >> So I would ask in the interim Mr. Lynch, Miss Wild on the hedge issue, work together. You've heard that you know that she's concerned that doing anything right now and legitimate points. We are

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in a drought tearing anything out, irrigation, that's all brick sidewalk back there. Um I would ask that you could work together on that issue. Uh revisit that in the fall, not make it a more stringent condition of this liquor

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license. It is in there. it's supposed to be maintained. I think there's acknowledgement on the part of the applicant that, you know, they recognize that it needs some work, but I think that she's given some justification for why it is in the current condition. Um, I think all of us could look at our

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property and say we could do something to improve it, but sometimes, you know, the weather just is not cooperating. um you've made a very generous offer in, you know, wanting to work with them on, you know, uh you know, giving plantings and or

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anything else. Um I applaud you for that. I would like to ask if you're willing to allow us to move forward. Um Mr. Gillan Schwarz, are there any other things that we would need to add for the conditions or you feel that these are sufficient? Well, I I

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just to be clear, I mean, I was kind of going back and forth with them on the conditions that they discussed, but there is a view that council could proceed with as is and with the understanding the parties are going to continue to talk and code enforcement will keep an eye on any code enforcement violations and

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>> okay, >> as they would any other case. My take on it is it sounds like there's a there's a very positive dialogue going on between all the >> council member >> Steve >> very a positive dialogue is going on among all the parties that are that are

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on the street and now you're you're aware of some of these issues that are of great concern to the folks on on Corgi Street. Um urge you to take those into consideration. I'm sure you will because you want to be good neighbors.

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Um Mr. Lynch, I commend you for having a civil conversation with, you know, with these folks and representing, you know, the people on Corgi and and presenting those issues. So, um, to me, I think there's an opportunity to, uh, continue to work on, you know, on that. I would

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suggest that we move forward. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Councilwoman Baldwin, are you okay with us moving forward? Um, just a couple things because I was looking at this document that was here. Um, and as well as the pictures and I live within two

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blocks of of the mansion and walking that back area of Corgi. Um, I walked it right after the our last meeting. Um, I saw things were being cleaned up and things were being taken care of. Um, which I commend you on. Thank you. Um,

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but I also with walking back there, you know, the hedro could be there's a lot of a lot of dead debris in there. Um, I think that that needs to be cleaned up to encourage new growth that's in there because we all know that when something's dead, it's, you know, not going to really be encouraged to um I

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and I think that that might be kind of where the neighbors are going. You know, let's clean that up a little bit more. Get a, you know, a landscaper in there to um, and correct me if I'm wrong, Mr. Lynch. I think that that was a lot of what you were saying in here and I understand uh Miss Wild's concern with

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the drought and everything else. Um >> Sure. >> Uh no, you're correct. But but I think the type of concerns go more to also just maintenance like >> Yeah, >> we're in a drought. What would help control moisture loss in a drought?

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>> Mulch. >> Uh >> I I saw that in there as well. >> Those types of things just basic. I don't see other than the commitment of 30 new plants which can't don't have to be big. They can be small three gallon plants because there'll be recent cutings they will grow and they take time and that's okay. I see this as is

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not much except in the original 2022 condition when I was working with the applicants council it defines a hedge and that the concept of a hedge was per city ordinances has to go back to something. It's not just a hedge out of nowhere. It's a hedge coming back to city ordinances and an or a hedge for

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dislocation between a a non-conforming use and a residential is not what's there. So when they maintain it, they have to maintain it to a certain standard which is the city standards. And I'm just I don't care if it gets there. But yeah, you have to do

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>> well. What I'm hearing is they're in compliance right now. It sounds like there's going to be efforts made. You're you're aware. I take it you're going to you're going to move forward with this and work on this as a as a solution. It sounds like something that can be done among all all parties here. >> Absolutely. And and for example, with

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that cleanup after my meeting with Mr. Lynch uh this past Friday when I was over there at Southern Mansion, one of the questions that I asked him was when I mentioned in my meeting with Mr. Dietrich that there was some question about something to do with the space in

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between where the sidewalk ends and where the curve begins. And I was trying to understand what that complaint was. And finally, after we discussed it for a while, um, Mr. Lynch told me, "Oh, there's a few pieces of concrete that broke off and rolled down."

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So, and that was the source of a lot of contention for the neighbors. So, on Friday, I walked up and down and I picked picked up about five pieces of broken concrete between this size and this size and I removed that. Um, I can also tell you, um, and this goes to your

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point, uh, Council Member Baldwin, that there are there already is a contract in place, uh, with, um, excuse me, um, a landscaping company, uh, True Green comes out, they service the lawn, they service the hedges. We also are bringing out, um, some additional landscape

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workers that aren't part of that company uh, to do more of that cleaning up back there. So, that already is scheduled um, and will happen within the next week. >> Okay. I I think that we um you know at this point in time I think we're going to move on with this. Um I think that

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you know we feel that the conditions you've worked together continue to do so dialogue. Please encourage the neighbors to respectfully reach out to the property owners and leave messages when they have issues or complaints. Um and you know it sounds like uh efforts are

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being made on the part of the property owner. Um >> one one last comment please Mr. Lynch. Thank you. point of procedure because I've heard it many times tonight. The fact that the neighbors have not been calling since 2022 doesn't reflect that we were happy or we

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thought things were going well. So now we're embarking upon a new program where we're saying we're going to be working cooperatively and not calling toes and not calling the police. We don't want to bother you. We're going to work it out ourselves. >> Well, please do. know that that is there should those conversations >> please next year if we were here god

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forbid >> please don't look at the record saying well we haven't had any calls this year and things must have been good it's not it's because we were working collaboratively all year >> and my point also is is that at at some point you don't feel that you're getting

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the responses that you should be getting from the southern mansion management please reach out to the city because again you are right next year we will come to the table and we will expect that we hadn't heard anything. So I encourage you work collaboratively good

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neighbors with the Southern Mansion but if you feel that you're not seeing things or things are not staying on course please I encourage you to reach out that is the only way that we have a record of what's occurring. >> Okay. >> Okay. So all right you're welcome

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>> everyone. Okay. Thank >> council just because the mayor's already stepped down. Do you want to take that resolution right now and just >> y >> Mr. May uh I'm sorry deputy mayor do you mind if I make that motion to approve that? >> No I do not.

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>> Excuse me. >> Uh Erin would motion so just to be clear we're looking at resolution 252-062026 resolution approving alcohol and beverage license renewals for the 2026 2027 license. I'll make the motion for

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that. >> Do I have a second? >> I'll second. >> Thank you. >> Council member Meyer, >> yes. >> Deputy Mayor McDade, >> yes. >> Council member Bodner, >> yes. >> Council member Baldwin, >> yes.

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>> Mayor is excused. Okay, >> we're back to the agenda. >> Uh, I guess I believe we are still in the public portion for resolutions. Should anybody else have a comment? And please keep them to five minutes if you >> and you're back. >> Thank you. Good job. Just for the

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record, I I wasn't sure how detailed that was going to get. So once it was getting more detailed, I wanted to recuse myself. I'm within 200 feet of the property. >> One minute, 1010 New York Avenue. >> Good evening, Joseph. >> Um resolution

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uh see 24806 26. Uh Paul, will will the city be in a position to give uh some kind of a breakdown timewise on when things might

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happen? Will it be done in phases? Uh are we going to tear out all of the shrubbery first? Then how are we going to do the seaw wall? It would be nice that there be some kind of a >> So that that won't happen until we have a contractor in place. It will be done

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in one singular phase. It will it's in contemplated in the specifications right now that they will start on the Wilmington Avenue end and work their way westerly towards Madison Avenue. Uh but beyond that, we won't know those kinds of details until we have a contractor

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selected and um on board to to know how he wants to approach it. >> Thank you. That's really what I would like. And and just as a comment, I think the uh the concrete wall along Beach Avenue as it's being finished now looks

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very very nice and I think the colors, the way they've been blended together with the the work that's being done is a credit to not only the contractor, but it's going to be a very attractive for the city. Thank you. >> Thank you, Jules. Anyone else on resolutions this evening?

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Seeing none, we'll close public comment and move on to the consent agenda. Council, is there anything you'd like to remove from the consent agenda this evening? >> Anything, council? >> Uh, resolution 249. >> Okay.

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>> Anything else, council? 251, please. >> Okay. All right. Anyone Anyone else? Okay. Roll call, please. >> Oh, we have a motion to accept the consent agenda. >> Do we have a motion? >> I'll make the motion. >> Do I have a second?

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>> 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. So, back to 24906 2026. Resolution authorizing sale of

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personal property no longer needed for the city purposes to nonprofit organizations. >> Do I have a motion? >> I'll make a motion. >> Do I have a second? >> A second. >> Any comments? >> Yes. Um, I just wanted to comment briefly. Um, if you recall back in uh, April, Councilman Bodner and I agreed to

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undertake trying to find uh, rehome the pieces that were in storage at uh, from the AM church uh, sitting over in one of the sheds, the large sheds over in DPW. Um, and I'm we're very pleased this evening that we've been able to re put

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about 18 pieces almost every single piece that was in storage back into the community um either in Cape May or back in the Cape May County community. Uh, these pieces are going back to uh will be used in the Eastland Theater in the AM church. Uh, one of the pews will be

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going out to the Kate May Science Center and will be uh a plaque placed there um giving the providence of that. And then the final pieces are going to the Whitesboro historic preservation project. Um so lot of lot of time and energy. Um I think Steve and I felt at

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times we were not going to succeed but you know it was a very good effort. Um and really pleased that we were able to do that these pieces will be maintained. I know that he wants to make us a few comments. I just want to note that the alter rail will be maintained in the DPW

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uh storage area until such time that there's an expansion of the AM church. Um and then we will look to repurpose that and I've already had that conversation with their executive director and he's actually very excited to take a look at that piece and see what they could do. So,

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>> so all three organizations that are taking these pieces, the Science Center, the Eastland Theater, the Whitesboro Historic Preservation Project, I mean, local organizations, um, all recognize the significance of of these items and were genuinely excited to receive them

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and to showcase them. Um, I just want to mention that, um, I spoke with I had I had a lengthy conversation with Mrs. Charlie Green from the Whitesboro Historic Preservation Project. And it was just a very moving conversation

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focusing on community and the AM church. And it was just apparent in the discussion with her just broaching the topic of them uh receiving these items just how meaningful it was to be able to receive um in this instance the the church pews and and uh some very ornate

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chairs that had been in the church. So, um, you know, we get an opportunity to do a lot of really meaningful things here on city council, but it's great when you get to to do something that just kind of like hits you, you know, hits you in a in a in that certain way. Um, and I also want to thank um Jody

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Allesandre from MAC. He connected >> um the city with the Whitesboro historic preservation project. So, um I'm going to extend my public thanks to him for that. >> Thank you, Jody. >> That's so nice. Um, I'm actually glad you brought this up, too, because I did

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not know that the pews were going to the Cape May Point Arts and Science Center. And that is why I will be abstaining on this. >> Okay. >> I am on the board. >> So, thank you. >> All right. >> Um, we have a motion. >> We have a motion and a second if council's ready for roll call. >> Roll call.

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>> Council member Meyer? >> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor McDeade? >> Yes. >> Council member Bodner? >> Yes. >> Council member Baldwin? >> Yes. >> Mayor Mullik, >> I abstain, but great job on that. >> Thank you. >> All right. On to 25106 20226. Resolution authorizing a maintenance and

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reimbursement agreement with Sturdy Savings Bank to maintain gas lamps adjacent to property known as 701 Washington Street. >> Do I have a motion? >> I'll make the motion. >> Do I have a second? >> I'll second. >> Any questions or comments? Roll call. >> Council member Meyer. >> Abstain.

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>> Deputy Mayor McDade. >> Yes. >> Council member Bodner. >> Yes. >> Council member Baldwin. >> Yes. >> Mayor Malik. >> Yes. >> Thank you. I just just real quick to comment on that. I just want to thank Sturdy Bank. Uh, you know, the gas lamps out in front of the bank, you know, have

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been on their property on and off at different stages just because and they didn't have anybody really to maintain them and know where to go. And finally, you know, through our public works department and Justin, we reached out to the bank and said, "Hey, we do this.

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Maybe we can do a shared service and and maintain them for you." So, it took a little while, but um I think it's going to be a good thing that you know the lamps will be lit more consistently now and um I think it'll look better in that area for that. >> Yeah.

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>> And we're going to recoup 100% of the cost on it. So, it's just a good partnership. >> That's great. >> Okay. On to >> We voted on the regular agenda, right? >> We have a few items on the regular agenda to address now. We're through the consent. So we have um speaking of

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abstensions 23506206 a resolution authorizing renewal of alcoholic beverage license 05023616004 to be considered by the director of alcoholic beverage control pursuant to the conflict license provisions for the 2026 2027 license year. This is for the

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King Edward Corp license that was tabled from last meeting. You'll notice that there was some new wording um added to the special conditions for council's consideration this evening. Is there a motion? I'll make the motion. >> Second. >> I'll second.

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>> Any discussion? Council. >> Just a clarification. This was seen by our conflict council. Yes. >> And clarified that and I Yes. I just wanted to >> Mr. Baldini did review this as conflict counsel and we have an email on file that he's reviewed it and he's okay with

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these conditions. >> Yep. >> As as we add them in for the purpose of why we added them. >> I just wanted to let the public know. >> Absolutely. >> Yeah. >> Absolutely. >> All set. >> Council member Meyer. >> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor McDeed. >> Yes. >> Council member Bodner.

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>> Yes. >> Council member Baldwin. >> Yes. >> Mayor Mullik. >> Abstain. >> Thank you. We have 261062026 resolution of award for bid 26-09 fiscal year 2026 New Jersey water bank uh for the various sanitary sewer and water

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main improvements projects. >> Do I have a motion? >> I'll make a motion. >> Do I have a second? >> I'll second. >> City manager >> for I'll just add some comments. Um so we obviously received bids for this project today. Um and and I appreciate

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you considering this today. Otherwise, we're going to have to have a special meeting before the end of the month because this is another project where we're receiving um $3 million worth of principal forgiveness. Obviously, the bid prices is less. So, um the the

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non-participating amount of the bid items is just over $42,000 and some change. So, there will be about $2.2 $2 million worth of reimburse principal forgiveness and then there'll be a city portion of $400,000 in change

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um that that we'll be responsible for. Uh this is similar to the project that we did last year. If you recall, we were right up against the deadline and had to have a special meeting to award the contract. So, um I apologize for that. And I'd also want to note just for record the streets that are part of

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this. Uh there's a section section of Howard Street and this couples with the same block that we received at NJ DOT grant on Howard Street. So we're kind of re maximizing some of our grant fundings for reconstruction on that street. Uh

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then we're doing Virginia Avenue, Pittsburgh to Philadelphia, uh Reading Avenue from Virginia to Ohio Avenue, and then Harbor Lane, Texas Avenue to the end. Um that's kind of going to clean up a little bit on uh Harborview Park area and kind of next

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year get a little paving work and utility work done to kind of really clean that area up. So those that's the project in scope that that we'll most likely be looking to have constructed in the fall winter 2026 2027. >> Great.

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>> That's it. >> Perfect. Any questions or comments? >> No. >> And and the map for those locations are on the website. So if anybody's interested in where that project is, it is on the website. >> Thank you. Roll call. >> Council member Meyer. >> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor McDade.

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>> Yes. >> Council member Bodner. Yes. >> Council member Baldwin. >> Yes. >> Mayor Mullik. >> Yes. >> And 26206 2026 resolution authorizing grant application and execution of a grant agreement with the state of New Jersey D for SRF technical assistance

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and design grant for lead le service line replacement project. >> Do I have a motion? >> I'll make a motion. >> Do I have a second? >> I'll second. Any questions or comments? Council. >> Roll call. >> Council member Meyer. >> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor McDade. >> Yes. >> Council member Bodner. Yes.

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>> Council member Baldwin. >> Yes. >> Mayor Malik. >> Yes. >> Thank you. >> On on to new business. Council. >> New business. Any new business? City solicitor? >> Uh, not tonight. Thank you. >> City manager. >> Uh, nothing. Thank you. >> City clerk. >> Just a few maintenance announcements.

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Um, all city offices will be closed on Friday for the Junth holiday. The Harborview Park ribbon cutting is scheduled for July 2nd um at 11:00 a.m. Uh, city offices will be closed again on Friday, July 3rd for the Independence Day holiday. And the Independence Day parade is July 4th at 1 p.m. on the

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beachfront. >> That's it, Mayor. >> Great. I can't believe we're already on to July 4th. Holy moly. >> Okay. Um Council uh Councilwoman Baldwin, >> just one quick thing. Um the HPC

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met last night and there was discussion and research that was completed on and Mayor Mullik, I know that you're familiar about with this um research on the initial um national historic uh designation as a landmark city back in

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1976. Um there was a apparently a plaque that was made. it was a temporary plaque and nobody can seem to locate the actual plaque and they feel that it was never delivered or never but whatever. So, um

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what we were looking at doing is recreating that. >> Go ahead. >> Not to interrupt. >> Wasn't it on the um wall and Okay, so tell me I'm wrong here because I thought it was on the wall of the um escalator mall building. Yes, there is something

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that identifies that there but based >> but not >> but not this one. Yeah, it is interesting. >> The mystery continues. >> It does. It does. >> Okay. >> So, um it's been recreated um designed and um

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what we're looking at doing at this point is just, you know, contacting Franklin Bronze to get an estimate, get a price. I mean, we're looking at a 50-year um this year, and maybe it might be a good idea if we if we place that somewhere. Um but, uh the council will

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be informed once we once we get a price and and see where we go. But everybody on HPC was um kind of excited. I see um Kevin out there. Uh but yeah, we were Yeah, just to just to get something up and in a prominent location, possibly

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the mall. >> That's great. So, okay, that's all. Mayor, thank you. >> Great. Councilman Bonner, >> um, two things. First, um, the city manager mentioned about the police department, um, getting their accreditation. So, I want to congratulate chief as well as the

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department, um, for achieving that. Um, I was working with the law enforcement agency that went through that process. And I can tell you from firsthand experience, it's a lot of work and, um, a difficult uh,

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um level to to achieve. Um and not every law enforcement a agency um you know does meet those standards. So congratulations to the the chief his staff including those that are now retired that participated in um in in getting that accomplishment. Um also

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want to mention that um the lights in Convention Hall, the new lights that were installed look fantastic. Um, I stopped in convention hall. Brittany from tourism civic affairs gave me a tour, showed me the lights. Um, it's going to be great for the shows and for

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um all the, you know, anybody who's coming into uh in convention hall and uh with with the new lighting. So, um it's a it's a real nice addition, real nice upgrade for convention hall. On a side note of that, so we've also on a separate project, but we also kind of

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finished and completing we upgraded the audiovisisual uh upgrades and cameras and stuff and we actually tested it during um the coastal coalition meeting in that we did the presentation with Zoom and and did a lot of interaction with the camera and stuff like that. So,

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uh, we can do I think we now have the capabilities to do a real real full multimedia interaction or if say council ever had to have a meeting there where we had a larger audience, we could probably host hold a meeting there and and still live stream it and have

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interaction uh with the public. So that's awesome. It's just another thing that we have completed there to upgrade those facilities to kind of bring them up to modern standards >> and that whole system will be put to the test at the end of the month for the Mac Minelli concert. Right.

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>> That's it. >> Two week two weeks from Sunday or week >> what day? I don't know the date. >> Yeah, Sunday. >> So see everybody there. >> That's great. Deputy mayor. Uh, nothing this

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>> nothing this evening. >> Councilman Meyer, >> I don't have anything as well. >> Uh, I just echo the uh compliments to the city manager and the police department, all the hard work that they've done um and getting that accreditation. Great work. Uh, with that, we'll open it up to the public

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comment. Anyone else wishing to speak on any and all matters, please feel free to come to the microphone. Please state your name and address for the record. >> Jules RS 1010 New York Avenue. Um there was an article in the paper was

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referring to the Jity service servicing into West Cape May. Is is that something that is happening or is planned to happen? >> Is happening? Uh I think I announced it several almost a month ago before the

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season started. So yeah, we've um uh had the request from uh West Cape May. We looked at it. Um we're doing a trial period this year. We have a a tenative MOA with them that if it kind of works out, I'll circle back with council and we'll get a formal um shared service

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agreement to kind of extend that service. But yeah, we've uh extended it. There's two stops um in Kate May, I mean West Cape May to extend the uh service. Um, I know the residents over there have already started using it and um, you

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know, it's I'll say it's been an assistance because it lessens the parking load in the city where you know, you now have people from West Kate May being able to take the shuttle into um, Cape May without having to bring their car in and find a parking spot. I like

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the idea of a shared service agreement so that the Cape May city taxpayers do not have to bear the the entire cost going into West Cape May. Um we both share uh in some form of distribution of cost. That would be a good idea. Thank

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you. >> Appreciate that Jules and I agree with it. I think one of the aspects is the parking right that >> Yes. Yeah. So you can park for free at the Westgate May Burrow Hall and uh catch a shuttle and come in. So, it's not only just for the residents, but it it's it's a way to uh park kind of like

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how we always encourage people to park at the elementary school, you know, during the summer when school's out. It's just another spot to kind of park for free and be able to move around the city without, you know, having to either pay for parking or search for parking. >> That was my comment when we talked about

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it. I said, "Please, they they have to make that burrow hall parking available." >> And there's a sign out out in front that says, you know, free parking jitney stop. So it it it's advertised such that I >> think anytime there's a cooperative effort with municipalities is is good

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for for all of them all of us. U most of us make don't make a distinction frankly between where is Kate May and where was Kate May begin and end. So it it is a blend and I congratul >> thank you.

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>> Thank you. Anyone else this evening? Seeing none, just reminder that uh we have our special guest from uh from Atlantic City Electric still here if anyone would like to still >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Ronnie. And >> uh with that, do I have a motion to adjurnn?

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>> Just as a reminder, we do have a close session. >> Okay. >> That we're going into >> We still close. >> Uh we will adjourn into the close session and we will come back here and uh close out the meeting. Okay. After the close session. >> All right. So, we're going to go into close session. The time is 4:45.

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Give me >> I can't I can't Oh jeez. I actually thought I remember starting to look like >> I didn't I

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take a look at that to see if it's >> broken out. >> Yes. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Let's Is this Christmas? Your kids excited to be done. There needs to be some sort of

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accounting on that and agree. So that's the first Okay. It looks beautiful. >> Yeah. >> All right. We have three people here, right? >> Yeah. Let's do it. >> Is it? >> We're not We're not taking any action, right?

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>> No. No. >> Okay. We're making the mo the >> Let's go. Making a motion. >> Let's go. We're making a motion to >> Okay. We're we're just coming back from close session. Uh the time is now 5:30. We're not um we are not taking any

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actions. Therefore, do I have a motion to adjurnn? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Second. >> All right. The time is now 5:30.