It's called to order the meeting of Thursday, January 8th through 2026. Start with the pledge of allegiance and a moment of silence. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God,
indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Please bow your heads for a moment of silence. Amen. Amen. >> Mr. Madden >> here. >> Mr. Barnes >> here. >> Mr. Pulchini >> here. >> Mr. Hartzel >> here. >> Mr. Lovech here. >> Mr. Winslow
>> here. >> Mr. Crowley >> here. >> Adequate notice of this meeting has been given pursuant to public law 1975 chapter 231. This time we'll turn it over to the mayor and administration for reports. >> All right. I just have a couple quick things. I talked to the commissioner of
the DOT and the lights uh went out again. They're having some problems, some wiring problems or whatever. But uh good news, tomorrow we'll tomorrow I should get a report on what's going on from the contractor and we'll get those lights back on. So uh I want to thank the commissioner for getting back to us
and working with us and giving us an update on that. The elevator permitted our police substation at 8 and the Boro. Uh we received that yesterday. So, the way everything's going, the approval is by the end of next week, and police should be able to move in later this month. And I know they're already uh
getting that ready. Um tonight, we're recommending the approval of going out to bid for demolition of the main police station building on Central Avenue. Add about 66 new spots for the summer temporarily till we get the new one start building. Overall construction is
moving great. They're ahead of schedule and uh you know said it'll be way before our deadline. We're still harvesting sand to rebuild the north end beaches. Uh we're still working with the federal and state officials on funding on a full
scale beach replenishment. If we got permits going out well, you know, we'll beat you in, do whatever we got to do, but it'll absolutely be ready for the summer season. I was told our dog park at 45th Street is closed for res renovations starting on Monday. We're going to be putting a new pavilion,
removing the planter wall, and repairing fences. So, the project should be done by the end of February. Is that right? Okay. I'm sorry. I hate giving deadlines these days. Um, end of February. And then additional time will be added to the dog park passes uh to make up for
when it's closed. And I want to thank everybody and council and everybody for first night uh first day at the beach. It was success. The town was loaded. Um, first day of the beach was great even though it was cold. But uh other than a little bit of a plumbing problem at the music pure, it was a it was a great
night. And finally, I want to invite everyone to the annual Martin Luther King ceremony on uh June 19th at 12:00 p.m. at the >> January. >> Did I what did I say? >> June. >> June. >> Okay. >> That was You had that mixed with Junth.
>> Thank See that. Thanks, Keith. I need >> you saying I got you. >> Thanks, Doc. I appreciate that one. Uh uh so it'll be January this month at 12 PM at Ocean City Tabernacle. Uh they're honoring Connie Pritchard, Sister Joelle, and Jen Sher uh for the
community service awards. Uh these women are perfect examples of Ocean City's community spirit. I'm looking forward to celebrating their achievements. Reverend Greg Johnson will deliver I have a dream speech, which is great when you say it. And everybody's invited to a food
lunchon after the event. also encourage everybody to participate in the day of service uh citywide cleanup uh before the ceremony. Uh volunteers are asked to meet at the night building at 12 street at 9:00 a.m. on January 19th and to pick up supplies. That's all I have.
>> All right. Thank you, mayor. With that, we will go out to our first citizen comment. Our first citizen comment are on agenda meetings only. Please uh let me know which item you're speaking about so I can follow along and give your name and address. We only have one person. Bill
Open this. Bill Hartre, 728 Battery Road in Ocean City. Unfortunately, I'm not going to be nice tonight. >> Bill, which which what what are you speaking about on the agenda? >> Pardon me? Not on the agenda. Okay,
we'll have another public comment for that. Thank you very much. Couple minutes. I'm I'm losing my hearing. >> That's okay. I We No worries. You'll We'll definitely get to you. >> You're still not going to be my >> That's okay. >> All right. Reports from city council. David,
>> um you know, I just want to give a a quick update on the boardwalk subcommittee. Uh we meet we've been meeting every two weeks uh religiously. We've got a lot of work uh accomplished. And on February the 7th at 10:00 a.m. at the library, we'll be providing an
overview of the data that we've collected so far. Again, this is a data driven process. We've taken the emotion out of it and all nine members are working attending every meeting. We've collected a lot of data and we want to share the the information we have so far. We're not going to have
recommendations at this meeting, but we're going to show you what we found and some of the things going to surprise everyone. So, we want to share that information as and we'll have periodic uh public meetings as we go forward uh in in this process. So, that'll be February 7th uh 10 a.m. at the Chris
Mahoney lecture hall at the library. Thank you. >> Thanks, Dave. Jody, >> no. >> Keith, >> I'm good, sir. Thank you. >> Sean, >> uh nothing at the moment. >> Tony, >> good. >> Peter, >> no reports. >> I have nothing to report. With that, can we have a motion to adopt the regular city council meeting minutes of
Thursday, December 18th, 2025? So move Winslow. >> Second. >> Mr. Madden. >> Yep. >> Mr. Barnes. >> Yes. >> Mr. Pchini. >> Mr. Hartzell. >> Yes. >> Mr. Lovef. Yes. >> Mr. Winslow. Yes. >> Mr. Crowley. >> Yes.
>> Okay. We have one ordinance tonight. It's a second reading. Um, ordinance 2517. Can I have a motion to take up 257 on second reading and public hearing? >> So move Winslow. >> Second. >> Barnes. >> Okay. Mr. Madden. >> Yes. >> Mr. Barnes. >> Yes. >> Mr. Pulchini. Yes,
>> Mr. Harshell. Yes, >> Mr. Lovech. Yes, >> Mr. Winslow. Yes, Mr. Crowley. >> Yes. >> Ordinance 2517, an ordinance amending chapter 25, zoning and land development, article 800, zoning board of adjustments, section 25-800.1, establishment, membership, and
organization of the revised ordinances of the city of Ocean City. >> Good evening, council. This is this ordinance will amend the ordinance that you adopted in September of last year regarding the process by which city council ch selects members of the zoning
board. This addresses a situation where you have a sitting zoning board member whose term has expired and allows you to reappoint that person without going through the advertising and interview process. >> Okay. Since this is second reading, is
there any public comment on this um ordinance only? Seeing none, go to council. David, >> no. >> Jody, >> I'm good. >> Keith, >> thanks Dave for pointing that out. >> Yeah. >> Sean, >> no comment.
>> Tony, >> no. >> Peter, >> all good. >> All right. Can I have a motion to adopt 2517 on second reading? >> So move. >> Second. >> Mr. Madden. >> Yes. >> Mr. Barnes. >> Yes. >> Mr. Pchini. Yes. >> Mr. Hartzel. >> Yes. >> Mr. Lovech. Yes.
>> Mr. Winslow. Yes. >> Mr. Crowley. >> Yes. >> Okay. We have one resolution that's a non-consent. Um Melissa. >> Okay. A resolution adopting the 2026 budget of the special improvement district of the city of Ocean City.
>> Uh George, do you want to do a quick explanation? >> Yeah. This is a resolution adopting our just like the title says the special improvement district budget. Uh and this is the uh night for the public hearing. Basically the revenue uh covers the
entertainment events for uh promotions of the downtown as well as the boardwalk and the advertisements uh for uh for those entities. And the total budget is $361,553. >> Okay. Thank you, George. Questions from
council. David, >> no questions. >> Jody, >> I'd love to get the budget up on that, but uh no questions. >> Keith, >> I'm good, sir. Thank you. >> Sean, >> no question. >> Tony, >> no question. >> Peter, >> all good. >> Okay, I'm good. Since it is a non-consent, we will go out to public comment on 261 only. Anyone that wants
to speak on 261? Okay, seeing none, can I have a motion to adopt resolution 261? >> So move. >> Second, >> Mr. Madden. >> Yes. >> Mr. Barnes, >> yes. >> Mr. Pulchini, yes. >> Mr. Hartzell, >> yes. >> Mr. Lovech,
>> Mr. Windlow, yes. >> Mr. Crowley, >> yes. >> It moves us to the consent agenda. All resolutions listed on the consent agenda are considered to be routine in nature and will be acted by one motion. If the mayor or any council person wishes a particular resolution to be considered
separately, it will be removed from the consent agenda. Is there anything to be removed by the mayor or city council? >> Okay. Can I have a motion to adopt the consent agenda? >> So move. >> Second. >> Mr. Madden. >> Yes. >> Mr. Barnes. >> Yes. >> Mr. Pchini? Yes.
>> Mr. Hartzell? Yes. Mr. Lovech? Yes. >> Mr. Winslow? Yes. Mr. Crowley? >> Yes. This moves into pending business. David, >> no pending business. >> Jody, >> no pending. >> Keith, >> I'm good, sir. Thank you. >> Sean, >> nothing pending. >> Tony, >> nothing.
>> Peter, >> we're working on record timing. No, >> don't change. >> New business. David, >> Jody, >> no. Nothing. >> Keith, >> well, I can't break a streak.
Um, >> Sean, >> no. >> Peter, >> let's go. >> I just have one thing that I just want to say. Um, you know, this past year has been really challenging and um and I know you some of you guys have gotten beaten up and um I've talked to some of
you individually and and I know Tony, you said you weren't going to run again, but I just wanted to say publicly that um I've gotten to know you. I respect you. I think you're a very empathetic and sincere individual and it's just my personal belief that I would um I would encourage you to reconsider that and
pray and talk to your family and uh and that's all I want to say to you. >> Well, thank you, Mr. President. I appreciate that. I I hold this seat here in highest regards. You know, I wasn't going to speak about this, but you know, saying that I wasn't at the last meeting
and somebody brought up about don't pray. I take my faith very seriously and you know when we were talked about just doing a moment of silence. I don't agree with it. I think that we can speak freely. We live in America. We can pray
to our Lord and I take it very seriously. And because I don't agree with something or didn't make a decision based on what you want, then I'm a hypocrite for praying. I'm sorry. Sorry I take that very offensively and you know who you are and I respect your opinion but it just hurts because I
really truly take my per um my faith very very seriously and if you know Tony P you know I'm serious. >> Thanks Tony. >> Part of being a Christian. >> All right with that we'll go out to citizen comment. There's no restrictions here. So um Bill you want to come up and
yell first. >> No. I am a Christian. >> I understand speak. >> Did I say no time? >> He's just said no restrictions. >> There's a time restriction. >> Time restrictions. >> Yeah.
>> Bill Hart 728 Battery Road, Ocean City. I'm still smarting from the 16th and Haven lot where we spent $19 million and we shouldn't have spent that. I know fairness in taxes was blamed for that.
And I've gotten mail from people who say it was our fault, and it wasn't. It was the administration's fault for not putting the money in place before the prop before the property was astronomically raised and I'm stilling
for that. The second issue is this has been a tough year for everybody. tough personally and uh I understand that. But I keep hearing this background noise of laughter and the laughter is coming from the people who are watching what's going
on right now with this stuff about the boardwalk. It's crazy. It's crazy. I could say get your head out of your arses, but I won't. So, and that's all I have to say. >> Thanks, Bill. >> Thank you. >> Thank you.
>> Anyone else for public comment? Susan >> Susan Krabanner 156 Asbury Avenue. Um this statement um is being made um on behalf of Ocean City 2050. It we sent out an authorization to make a public statement on behalf of the residents.
The underside residents of Ocean City, New Jersey, respectfully urged the planning board and city council to reject a rushed and ill ill- advised decision declaring Wonderland Pier property an area in need of rehabilitation. The designation is not
supported by facts and fun fundamentally mischaracterizes what is being proposed. Rather than a true rehabilitation of an existing use, the designation is being used to facilitate a massive transfer transformation of the site's scale,
character, and use, one that bears no resemblance to rehabilitation. Applying a rehabilitation label under these circumstances strips away the public safeguards, standards, and scrutin scrutiny that ordinarily accompanied such a significant change and exposes
the city to long-term policy and legal risks. Such a declaration would also set a dangerous precedent for Ocean City's family-friendly boardwalk and the city as a whole. If approved, it will invite other boardwalk property owners to seek similar designations using intentional
deterioration and neglect as a pathway to special treatment and sight specific reasoning. This peacemeal approach threatens the integrity of the boardwalk, the master plan and community character that has defined Ocean City for generations. We further urge the
city to instead rely on previously established boardwalk subcommittee and master plan process to determine the future of the boardwalk including any zoning considerations. That process addresses the entire boardwalk is factdriven, transparent, inclusive and
equitable to all property owners and residents and should not be bypassed for a single property or financially connected owner. We have copies of those people that have signed that. >> Okay.
>> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. Um, anyone else? Citizen comment. David Jim, we'll get to you next. Dave Hayes. Ocean City. My wife and I have been full-time residents for 22 years, and I'm a retired engineer. As
I'm sure you know, last night the planning board rejected the designation of 600 Boardwalk as a property in need of rehabilitation. Last night, Eustus Meta's team failed to convince the planning board that 600 Boardwalk qualified for rehab based on two
criteria. The planning board rejected that a significant portion of the structures are in deteriorated or substandard condition. The construction estimates to repair the pier foundation were from a construction firm in which Mr. Ma himself was a principal, a fact that was never disclosed prior to the
meeting. The cost analysis to determine a portion of the structures that were deteriorated incorrectly included the cost of repairing the carousel, the ferris wheel, and a long flute log flume ride. Even though the rides were purchased by Mr. Ma as personal
property, the engineering study found that the pier foundations were badly compromised. based on a visual inspection only and failed to provide any findings from a structural engineer. The planning board rejected the claim that there is a pattern of vacancy, abandonment, or underutilization of
properties in the area. Instead, they determined that 600 boardwalk vacancy and underutilization was the choice of the owners. Wonderland operated continuously for over 50 years before closing in October 2024. Contrary to a pattern vacancy, that's incredible
resiliency. Wonderland's closure was not based on the condition of the pier and equipment were rather on financial factors and last summer businesses operated successfully on the grounds. The designation of 600 boardwalk as a property in need of rehabilitation is
wrong and it's a blatant abuse in New Jersey housing and redevelopment laws. It's a gross abuse of the law to use rehabilitation where a clear intent is to demolish the existing structures and replace them with a development that's entirely new and radically different in
use, density, and community impact. Moreover, this is an abuse of a public process to by an individual to gain more wealth. Four city councilmen specifically asked for a planning board review and input from experts considering a rehabilitation designation
for 600 boardwalk. And last night, the planning board clearly rejected that rehabilitation designation. The process, this process was never intended to allow a developer to hold the city hostage until his demands are met. It's time to move on and stop letting an out out
ofstate developer dictate what's good for Ocean City. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Sorry, Jim. We'll get to you. >> Marie Hayes, Ocean City. My husband Dave and I have been full-time residents in Ocean City for 22 years. I want to thank the Ocean City Planning Board for doing
the right thing last night for Ocean City, rejecting a rehabilitation designation for 600 Boardwalk. By spotzoning this property as in need of rehabilitation, it would have set a precedent for any other boardwalk owners to do the same. As we already know, boardwalk owners have already been
getting topdoll offers from New York investors. City council takes an oath to make decisions for the good of the entire Ocean City community. A recent Rucker's Eagleton poll showed that nearly 80 80% of the Ocean City community is against a high-rise hotel
at 600 boardwalk because it will change our island forever. City Council should not be catering to the demands of any developer to the detriment of our Ocean City community or way of life and also the tourists who love Ocean City's greatest family resort. The planning board agrees that this property does not
qualify for rehabilitation and it's a blatant abuse of New Jersey local housing and redevelopment laws. I hope you will listen to them as you said you would. It's also time to start listening to your constituents, the people who voted you into office. do the right thing for our entire community and stop
catering to the demands of Pennsylvania developer Eustace Ma. 20 years ago, the last time a developer tried to build a high-rise hotel in Ocean City at the Cet property crossing the Flanders, although the residents overwhelmingly opposed it, city council ignored them. Like today,
the boardwalk merchants, Asbury Merchants, Chamber of Commerce, and the Restaurant Association all supported it. Unfortunately, city council didn't listen to the constituents who live here and voted for them and the project was pushed all the way to the 11th hour before it was rejected. Don't make that
stay mistake again. We stopped the high-rise last we stopped the highrise before and we will do it again. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Good evening. Jim Kelly, 137 Wesley Avenue. As we all know, the planning board met last night and voted not to recommend that the Wonderland site be
declared an area need of rehabilitation. The vote was close, but the key point is this. The professionals you asked for their in independent judgment have spoken. They said no. Their opinion must be given weight. The petition signed by nearly 400 Ocean City residents urges
city council to stay the course on the boardwalk subcommittee process and to put this rehabilitation idea out to pasture. The subcommittee process remains the best, fastest, and most inclusive way to address this deeply divisive issue. It can heal the city.
Let me be clear about what this petition says and what it does not say. It does not say no change. It does not say no development. What it asks for is the right process to guide change. We have all looked at Wonderland as a crisis. It's time to think about it as an
opportunity. But to do so, council and the mayor can stop driving division. Following the August meeting, we were on a constructive path. Then we were diverted for no good reason. There were no new facts. There was no new urgency. Just pressure from a developer to change
the August decision. And the town locked horns again. People began to say how bad our boardwalk is, how it's falling apart, how it's vacant, losing money. How we needed a savior. It's not. and we don't need a savior. That cycle needs to
stop. What we need to do is change the conversation. We need to harness the talent in this town and make our wonderful boardwalk even better. This is a moment for leadership. Real leadership allowing the subcommittee to complete its work, engaging constructively and
transparently with the developer, which also means not subcoming to his threats and working towards a solution that serves the entire community. It also means clearly communicating the process to the public, keeping residents informed, and allowing people to measure
progress as it unfolds. The light will reduce the angst. Darkness will fuel it. And it means driving a true activation program for the north end of the boardwalk for 2026. That is what leadership looks like. Thank you for your leadership. Thanks.
>> Anyone else? Public comment. public comment. Anyone can talk. >> Yeah. Well, hold on. We got somebody coming up and then you'll get next. >> Hi, I'm Jackie Murphy and I live at 920 Brighton. Officially, it's called 925 Bright Fifth Street. I don't understand
why we have two addresses, but we do. Um, I'm directly affected by what happens. I live right there. I'm there year round. I've been there year round since 2007. Um, and we've owned since 1988.
Number one is there's no room for that type of hotel. The beach is so packed on Brighton and Fifth. Fifth is a surfer's beach. Where are these people going to go? We're sitting right on top of one another now.
So I think that's wrong and I think we need something for the children, for the teenagers, not for the rich adults to come. The beach is there, but it's not a big enough beach for 250ome
rooms. That's my comment. And I really feel sorry for the people that live behind in that beautiful plaza section because that is a unique historic lovely area and they're just
being inundated. We at Fifth Street and Brighton, it's not quite the same, but we're all affected by this. So please think about that before you give in. to a developer
who only wants his own way. >> Okay. >> I feel very emotional. >> Thank you. >> Hello, my name is Heather Neville. I don't live in Ocean City. I have two businesses on the boardwalk. I have one on the boardwalk and one on Asbury. Um I'm in a room full of people that are very much for this project. I'm very I
mean very much against this project. I'm 100% for this project. Many people aren't here supporting the project because we're all working trying to make a $1.50 on the boardwalk. For those of you who don't know, people on the boardwalk ma'am ma'am ma'am sorry me.
>> Okay, just you know um businesses are down. I know I was personally down 18%. I know other people that were down as much as 30%. It's like if you gone to the malls that are empty, that are desolate. Um once you lose an anchor business, what happens to the mall? It falls apart. Wonderland was an anchor.
There's nobody looking to build another um amusement park, but there's someone that's giving you an anchor. If we don't put this anchor in, what's going to happen? There's going to be condos, stores. That's not an anchor. That's going to change the boardwalk dramatically. It's going to change every single business on the boardwalk. It's going to change everything about Ocean
City. I understand that people are, you know, they're upset they don't like change, but times are changing, and we have to make with the times. This is a once in a-lifetime opportunity. There's not going to be very many people that are going to be knocking down the door being like, "Hey, let me build this amazing project." I think it's absolutely insane that you guys aren't
in 100% support of this. If someone wants to build something great, why would you want to stop them? What would you prefer there instead? Condos, a store, we have condos, we have stores, we don't have an anchor hotel, we don't have something luxurious and something grand, and it's exactly what we need. If
you love this city, you will rethink and really think about the other end of it. It's not this is a family resort town. We have to keep it that. Thank you for your time. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Anyone else public comment? >> Susan Pinkerton Steinbach 846 4th Street
Ocean City. I I'm just wondering because it's been there for so long, are there any options for like historical like grants or anything to help improve that site? >> I don't know. Have we looked into anything like that?
Maybe there's opportunity that way. >> Thanks. >> Thanks, Susan. Anyone else for public comment? >> Seeing seeing more >> Nancy Nero on new topic. I just wondered if someone could give us an update on if
we're charging the 3% room tax on January 1st. like did the state approve what we wanted and did that start for the um the online booking agencies? I know you don't answer specifically. >> We can get back to you after the after we get get done here.
>> Anyone else for public comment? >> Seeing none have a motion to adjurnn. >> Jump on second.