All right, let's call to order the meeting of this Thursday, November 20th, 2025. Start with the pledge of allegiance and a moment of silence. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and
justice for all. >> Please bow your heads for a moment of silence. >> Amen. >> Hey, Mr. Mr. Barnes >> present. >> Mr. Hartzell >> here. >> Mr. Lubchuck >> here. >> Mr. Madden >> here. >> Mr. Pulchini here. >> Mr. Winsow. Mr. Crowley
>> here. >> Adequate notice of this meeting has been given pursuant to public law 1975 chapter 231. With that, um, a couple of procedural things here. Uh, on behalf of city council and the mayor's office, we have a proclamation uh, declaring epilepsy
month. So, I'd like to enter that into the record. And then, Mr. Dado, do you want to come come forward? Council President, mayor, council, I appreciate the honor because I truly believe that what what I'm recognizing here today is truly special. Uh the Ocean City Police
Department is one of only four police department in the entire state of New Jersey that made it through six reacredititation cycles. So I typically share the math with the council uh but this one was very difficult. So basically they fall into an elite group
of less than one point what was it 1.25%. So it's really significant what they have accomplished. What it means is that this is all your staff knows the officers know it's just following good practices or best practices at the state and national level. So if you indulge me
for two minutes I'd like to share with you the significance of the achievement. So, the Ocean City Police Department has once again made a commitment to adhering to best practices at the state and national level in a highly regarded statewide law enforcement accreditation program. This um this is Ocean City Police Department's seventh
cycle through our accreditation process since 20 since 2006. That's nearly two decades of commitment to excellence in policing and following best practices. Um it is simply part of their culture as they deliver police services to their community and continue to enjoy their
public trust. It's an elite group of law enforcement agencies as I mentioned before in the state of less than 1.25%. So this program administered to the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police and the New Jersey Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission has helped to transparently demonstrate the
professionalism, transparency, and preparness of state's law enforcement agencies in the state's public safety system. Now, accreditation status represents a significant professional achievement. Not I'm not not that I'm telling you or your police department anything new, but this prestigious reacredited status demonstrates Chief
William Campbell's firm commitment to state and national standards and the continued expectations for quality professional and ethical policing. Now, after that rigorous process for which they have been through several times, uh but they have to prove 100% compliance.
And by the way, it's always remarkable when we come here to do the onsite because there really no expectation of failure, a lack of compliance to any of our standards in the state of New Jersey. So I like to purge just some what the assessor said during that visit. Under Chief Campbell's leadership, a high level of competence,
leadership, and professionalism is evident within the agency. Whether future issues and challenges involves seasonal staffing, as we know, new police substation, rapid technology advancement, or expanding police communications, this agency will continue to move forward with a history
and commitment to following best practices, a preparedness plan, and a verification of insulence as an accredited agency. So it is the opinion of the assessment team that the Ocean City Police Department excels as a highly professional and committed agency which exemplify exemplifies all of the
tenants of law enforcement accreditation at the state and national level. And I truly say, and I mean it, is indeed my honor here tonight to represent the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police and New Jersey Law Creation Commission and congratulate Chief William Campbell, a creation manager, Captain Patrick Walsh, the member of the
Ocean City Police Department, the council, uh, the council president, the mayor, uh, and those cities that they so proudly serve for achieving their six reacreditation, joining an exclusive group of law enforcement agencies in the state of New Jersey that have made this long-term commitment to excellency in
policing. So to all indeed CONGRATULATIONS Nice job. >> Thank you. THANKS. >> YEAH, >> PLEASE. SURE. And Friday night, you the thing they had church on Friday night.
>> Yeah, absolutely. So, uh, members of council, mayor, uh, Mrs. McCrossen, good evening. Uh, it's an honor to be here. Uh, as Mr. Delgado said, uh, this is our, uh, seventh, uh, reacredititation cycle. Uh, we were accredited, uh, under Chief Bleven, uh, in 2006. And before I
go any further, I want to give like all my uh predecessors uh their fair due because if it wasn't for Chief Bleven uh followed by Chief Callahan and then Chief Prettyman who were all equally dedicated uh each and every cycle to the accreditation process, I certainly
wouldn't be standing here uh taking credit for uh a very, you know, small percentage of New Jersey law enforcement agencies uh that have been uh going through an accreditation cycle for as long as we have. 1.2% 2% that's uh Mr. Delgado just shared that with me before
we came over here. I didn't realize uh we were in in you know such a rarified air but uh you know so be it. And uh I'm just uh I'm proud that you know all the the men and women I don't have any my female officers here but uh some of the officers that you see uh behind me uh
Captain Walsh couldn't be here. He had a he was he served as our accreditation manager this cycle. uh he had a family obligation. But uh behind me here, Deputy Chief Clint Huffenstein, Captain John Bazooka, Lieutenant Pete Cartis, uh I've got Ryan Lutz is one of my patrol
officers. Uh but the those gentlemen were very instrumental uh in helping uh you know get us to the point where uh we were ready for uh an evaluation uh and a review by uh the accreditation managers uh that came on site uh on our agency.
Uh, and you know, I'm I'm proud to say too, like, you know, there was no uh no flaws. Uh, there was, you know, everything that we did that we've been doing, uh, was, uh, you know, 100%. You know, the mayor likes to to talk about policies and procedures. Here's the proof in the pudding, mayor. Policies
and procedures, uh, to the, uh, you know, top-notch level. So, uh, again, I want to thank everybody here. I want to thank on behalf of my entire staff. Uh, I graciously and honorly accept this, uh, award and, uh, I thank you all. >> THANKS, CHIEF. ALL RIGHT. IT'S A GREAT WAY to start a
meeting. Uh Jay, >> yeah, real quick. And and Billy, I know you're on Friday night. Uh I'm sorry. >> No. Yeah, because you'll do more justice >> if you want me. So, uh this I'm sorry, mayor. You did ask me to say a few words on that. So, uh this past Friday night,
uh we had um uh a Hispanic outreach. uh one of my uh officers uh who's a bilingual officer. Uh this program started uh several years ago with uh Sergeant Brendan Gene uh who's coming up for retirement uh at the end of this year. So he essentially passed the torch
uh to one of my uh bilingual officers, Thomas Menddees Okampo. uh and I think we had about 35 people uh that were there and you know asking just a bevy of questions uh in which they you know felt comfortable you know speaking to uh a Spanish speaking officer. I know the
mayor was there. Uh he had, you know, he reached out to me afterwards and said, you know, uh there was nothing but uh positivity in the room. Uh which, you know, we want everybody with everything that's going on, you know, on a national level, uh you know, we felt, uh certainly that this meeting was
imperative, uh to reassure, uh, you know, the Spanish population in Ocean City that, you know, certainly that, you know, they have a safe place here. they have a safe haven uh to be comfortable to live their lives without fear uh of the Ocean City Police Department you know coming uh and you know trying to
you know place them in custody and and you know further uh deportation proceedings. So I think that went uh you know very well uh and like I said I think they felt very comfortable uh with the officer uh you know with Tom officer uh Mendes Okampo who's going to who's
taking over the program. Uh so it's going to be you know up to him now to continue to facilitate uh these meetings uh you know probably like on a quarterly basis. Uh so like I said it was very well received by uh our Hispanic community and I look forward to you know continued progress in that regard.
>> Thanks. >> All right. Thank you. It was um yeah between our between the community policing and and I want to thank officer Gene please you know tell him for he I mean they all did such a great job and when you're when you don't understand
what people are saying in language all that kind of stuff and the way your all your guys handled it I tell you it was amazing and if the way they interacted it was just nice I I was wondering how they would act if they would be scared and all that kind of stuff but it was nice that whatever the police department
was doing. They felt comfortable and and I and they communicated. They had some questions. You know, it was hard to understand that the father next to me could speak Spanish, too. And I kept asking, "What is he saying?" Just told me to be quiet. So, >> you were just there for the pizza. You got >> it. No.
>> Yeah. No, it's as I said, you know, our commitment uh is to, you know, every anybody and everybody uh whether you live here, whether you come to visit here, to, you know, provide a a safe uh and sterile environment for everybody. And uh you know we strive to do that to the best of our ability. Uh and again I
you know I'm just I'm up here as the mouthpiece as the chief. I sit in an office. If it wasn't for the men and women that are you know that you see out driving around whether it's uh you know my traffic unit, my patrol officers, my community policing officers, they're the ones they're the boots on the ground that get it done. So you know for you up
here thanking me or you know praising me, it's really you know the men and women that that you know work under me that deserve all the credit because they you know they make our department look good. you know, we're all uh you know, equal as far as responsibility and uh you know, if if somebody's not doing
their job or uh you know, we're down we don't have you know sub adequate manpower uh you know then the you know the polished product that you see you know that you're you know commending me for now can't happen. So uh again you know I thank you all for your support your continued support uh and just know
that uh you know we'll strive to to be the best version of ourselves uh you know each and every day that uh we go to work. So thank you. gets you in the order. Go ahead. >> You guys want to say anything or >> No, okay. Again, I want to thank Chief Campbell. Thanks, guys. I appreciate it.
You guys deserve it. >> We are lucky to have one of the best departments around. Uh we have a couple ordinances on tonight's agenda and D is here and D and George will explain them. We also have a number of resolutions that we are recommending. We'd like to continue our summer jitney service and
we're getting ready to go out to bid. Uh this has been a great service for our summer guests and it's one way to help with our parking. We're asking you to approve a contract for construction of a new hanger at the municipal airport. This will provide a new revenue stream and hanger rentals and an opportunity to
tread more pilots. 95% of the cost will uh be provided by a grant. Our share will only be 5%. We're seeking approval to continue our Bayside maintenance dredging. This winter's contract will include South Harbor, Venetian Bayou, Carnival Bayou, the 14th Street Outfall,
and the Bayside Center. An earlier contract will redesign our parking lots out back to city hall. Uh include uh all the new properties we have. When it's done, the downtown will have more than 60 spots that were not there a couple years ago. The city team is putting
together a final parking statistics from this summer, and we'll be able to provide this information to city council and the public soon. I know Jody, you emailed us and were interested in that. We're continuing to work to improve the the reliability of our trash and recycling pickup. We've created a new
response team that will travel our trash and recyclable routes on pickup days. They will monitor our contractor, notify residents of improper place trash and recycling, and try to help with anything that was missed. I'll keep you updated on the success of this new program. Work
to clear the former car dealership at uh 16th Street continues to make good progress. The area for expanded library parking has been milled and elevated. Concrete is being poured for sidewalks and for repay parking next to the Palmer field. The rest of the block will be
cleared and landscaped. Uh work remains on schedule to be completed by the end of the year. Installation of the sod will be weather dependent. The library plans to use the open space for programs next summer. Earlier today, the senior center had their friends giving celebration. I know everyone there is
grateful for all the friendships and the community spirit that has been created in the past year. And I left everybody one of these little happy place things that all the seniors got today. They enjoyed it. Um beach tags for next summer arrive today. They'll go on sale starting Saturday. Everybody can pick
them up at the city city hall welcome center doing earlier than the bird on Saturday or online on the city hall website. You're all invited to our annual community Thanksgiving service on Tuesday. This year it'll be at 12:00 p.m. at St. Francis Cabrini Church at
Second and Atlantic. Hope everybody can make it. It's always a great event. Christmas in the downtown. Our miracle on Asbury Avenue is on the schedule for next Friday. As always, our fire department will help Santa get down the roof from the roof and light the Christmas tree. This year, uh, we're
going to add something new. The tree lane will be followed by a holiday drone light show that everybody will be able to see looking up from Asbury Avenue towards Sixth Street. So, they're going to set up down by the fire department and go up cuz we need a safe spot um above or below, excuse me. It's great to
see so many people from our community at this event and it'll be a cool new feature. Santa's mailbox is placed across the street. So, you guys have all been good. You can put a little letter in there. A few of us up here probably should not. Our Ocean City uh food cupboard is holding its Santa food drive
from November 28th to 30th. So during the Miracle and Asbury Avenue celebration on Black Friday, they will challenge the community to fill an Ocean City Beach Patrol lifeguard stand with donations. Please bring your non-p perishable food items to help them meet their goal and donations will be
accepted inside city hall welcome center on the following Saturday and Sunday. And I wish like to wish everybody a happy Thanksgiving and a safe uh trip to you go away. All right. Thank you, Jay. Appreciate it. With that, we will uh move into citizen comment. The first citizen
comment is on items on the agenda only. Um and just as a reminder, the way the meeting works, all your comments will be addressed to me. So, with that, Mrs. Khan, >> I guess this was kind of your agenda for
this for the street, sidewalks, and sanitation. Um, we had problems um during the build of two buildings next to us where the sidewalk was constantly blocked. We have called the
police. They have been horrific. They come out, they go, they'll move eventually. Nobody can ride a bike. Anybody that's handicapped can't walk. People who have disabilities cannot have access. It is also a street
where children come home from school. You call the police, they throw it under the carpet. It is not addressed. They could care less. They don't even document it. It has been a horrific experience that were you call the police
and they don't do anything. They come out and they talk to them. They refuse to move their vehicle and they go, "Oh, come on. They're just they're just what what about the school kids? What about the lady that just had her hip done that goes around the block three times a day or the walker, they can't go because the
sidewalk's blocked." And the police laugh and come out and they don't pick at them. They don't move them move their vehicles up to clear the sidewalk and it was an ongoing issue for 11 months and since it's part of your agenda streets
and sidewalks and also I don't know covered underneath that is also that no one that has a commercial license the police seem to take it. We were told that they would get a warning, they would know the account and if they were called out again, any other contractors
being parking the wrong way and you're crossing cuz it's one way each way, you're off you're actually causing a a problem. It's a ticketable offense. It's a point offense because you were going against traffic into oncoming traffic.
During the summer, tourists get ticketed for it, but I guess builders get a free pass on that, too. The police do absolutely nothing. They don't care. They come out. They the bilingual guy came out, spoke to people that come,
half of the contractors don't speak English, don't communicate, don't want to talk to people that are wait that speak English because when you speak Spanish to them, they also don't communicate. They also don't understand Google Translate and they also don't
seem to understand the bilingual officer when he comes out because they leave and nothing is done. So that is it for that ordinance. I guess it falls under part of the agenda. >> Thank you. >> It's very disappointing the police force. You call them and they don't do
anything. I would sooner die than have them come along with the ambulance and the fire company. >> All right. just >> All right, Mr. Robert Levens. >> Not a >> Okay, we'll get to you eventually. Mr. Dorsey
>> Nelson. Hi, I'm Dice common Nelson, Central Avenue regarding the issue of offseason versus the relaxation of the legal letter of the law for sidewalks and
parking etc. that the last woman spoke about. [Music] The city claims discretion. Thank you. Okay, with that we'll move into reports from city council. Jody. Uh Keith.
>> Yeah, actually I do. I'm going to do a little hand out here. Take some of these. Let's just keep this. [Applause] Let's see here. >> How many do
everybody? >> Yeah. >> Good. Yeah, everybody's import. >> Yeah, of course. [Music] >> How many more I got to go? >> And I got you. Okay.
Okay. So, this is I I did some research. I'm I'm not looking to vote on this or bring it to vote. It's just that I thought well in the time period that the planning board was here uh September 11th uh this is well past the 60 days. I
understand they're going to have a subcommittee meeting uh Monday which I'll be glad to attend. But I I just wanted to take a look at um just some research I did. This doesn't mean whether anybody should be for or against. just stuff to look at as as we move forward on trying to get some kind
of uh relief from war two on parking. Uh the first thing I did is a breakdown by bedrooms because I thought I heard Mr. Loper say that if we looked at four bedroomedroom units, there'd be like 840 of them. He may not have said that. I thought that's what he said. So all this
information I I got from the city. Now I did break it down myself. So, you know, I'm not the best mathematician or anything like that, but I think I'm pretty accurate in what I've put here. So, when you look at my ward, there's uh 3567
actual total residential units. And they break down as follows. Four bedrooms 588, 5 bedrooms 260, six bedrooms 116, 7 bedrooms 42, and 8 bedrooms and above 59. Um, and you know that I'm I'm
looking at this this in a way that you only required to have three parking spots and I I just feel that there's certain amounts of bedrooms that's related back to the parking spots. So, uh, originally I was going to look at four bedrooms and then when I heard
that 840 number, I said, "Well, maybe I'll look at five." So, if I do a parking change on units from 5 to 8 bedrooms, it' be 521 units. uh or 14.6 of the units in my board. If I decided
to move back to the four bedroomedroom uh between four and eight bedrooms and above, there'd be 1109 units or 31% uh that could possibly be affected. Uh we we talked about um basically uh
development working compared to total properties and whether or not they become non-conforming. And this was a huge issue for me. So I wanted to look into that. So what I did is over the last 10 years we had a total applications for 210 applications. Now I
didn't break those down as to what how many were approved, what they were approved for, or if they would have made a a um property uh you know non-compliant. Uh I did not do that. So what I did was I looked at the worst case scenario. Now, granted, number one,
I'm only asking for this parking to be relief on new residential construction, but I thought since um this could possibly make uh you know, some of these units uh non-conforming, I thought, well, let's just let's just take a look at the worst possible scenario. So, out
of 4,13 total units, um over approximately 10 years, it was 210 applications. So, if all those were affected, became non-conforming, which they would not. What that number is, I I don't know, but if I had to, I would dig in. I get the
exact number. But I thought 5.88% over 10 years if they were non-conforming was a low number. And over a period of of an annual rate would only be uh 0.558 units. out. They shouldn't be non-conforming anyways because we're
looking for this new new development only. But in case people were worried about that that when they come, I want to make sure that I address the issue to say, "Hey, this is not a ton of properties. It's a small amount of properties. Probably not going to happen anyways." And then the amount that I'm saying is definitely not accurate. It's
the highest number could possibly be. So then what I wanted to do is look at um lot size um because I think and it's very very difficult to do this and everybody in this city gave me a ton of information. It was well done but to figure this all out and calculate this
all out is very very difficult to do. So, what I did is I just I tried to do some some size ranges by square footage to kind of get a balance between what I'm trying to do with the ratio of bedrooms to parking and how that relates to bedrooms as well as the lot size. So,
what I found out is if you look at lot size from 360 to 800 square ft that that would be a lot of condominiums with smaller units would also be units um that are just small. We have all kinds of different lots here. This has been so
difficult and Frank Donado really went out of his way with the tax map to try to get this somewhat close. But I'm telling you, we have so many different type of lots that I just have to make a broad brush on what I think it is. And I think I'm pretty close. So that's
actually represents about 45 to 60% of those lot sizes, which really wouldn't be affected by my parking change. Then when you move to uh the next level which is 2250 to 2700 and again it's a it's a
tight one but a lot of lots kind of fall in that area. These would be substandard or smaller lots. Some single single family or multifamily properties that survived as non-conforming. Yes, we have non-conforming lots everywhere in the second ward. So me adding another five
you five just shy 6% is negligible. We have a ton of non-conforming. I I wanted to count those, uh, I would still be out there counting. So, and again, it's just how the town developed. They they build on all kinds of different lot sizes. I mean, you have 50 by 75s. It will drive
you crazy. So, this is why I went kind of with a broad a a broad thing here. So, then we get to the meat of the bone. The third category is 3,000 square foot lots, the 5250. And they're generally standard full lots, 30 wides, 40 wides, and 50 wides. Then the next category was
3,700 to 5800. There is some overlap there, but it captures larger conforming lots. So on the on on the number two section, it's 5 to 8% or under the category of number two and number three
10 to 15% and number four uh was the overlap category is 10 to 15%. And again there fast so I had to make some decisions on how to do that. Um, you should have seen the chart, you know, and Frank and Joe Elliot, they they they
they made it as simple as they could because man is it complicated. So, and then you have greater than 18,000 square ft, which is 1%. They're larger tracks of commercial property, some with residential units. So, what does this all mean? Well, what this means is when
I looked at the when I looked at four bedrooms and up as a as a as a change, okay? Then I looked at category 2, 3, and 4, I found out that the ranges cuz remember the range is 5 to 8, 10 to 15,
10 to 15, and 1. The range is 26 to 38%. Remember when I talked about affecting from four to eight bedrooms, that came out to 31%. So, I think I'm pretty darn accurate by being able to piece together
30 wide 30 wide lots, 40 wide lots, 50 wide lots, one by bedrooms, which had it at at uh 11, 119 units at 31%. And if you go by the mean average of of the lot size is 32%.
So I think I'm pretty accurate in this information and I wanted to bring this forward not to make a decision tonight or debate or anything to say this is the research that I got from the information that was given to by the city. The next is a picture. It's a famous picture I've shown. I'm not going to show it here
today. Owners changed. But what this is this this particular picture uh basically takes a lot that is 43 12x 56 noni access. So this is like the most difficult type of product to get parking
in, right? Because most lots, a lot of lots are at least 100 ft deep. This is 50 60 ft 56 and only 43 wide. In this picture, it shows that you could park four cars. Why am I saying this? Because I wanted people to know the worst
possible situation, a four-bedroom home, you can park four cars. That's why I picked the worst possible situation. >> A single family. >> Yes, it's a single family, right? So that I'm sorry I should have said that. So and so when you look at these these parking requirements of four four
bedrooms up to eight bedrooms, you say you want one parking spot for each bedroom. Um I have stacks and stacks of drawings here. I will share them, but I have a whole pile. And when it comes to single family homes, this is extremely
easy to do. on a 40 wide, you generally have uh two garages and you definitely have two places behind to park. So, when it comes to the single family homes, um this is not a problem. Not one of these I've got
scads and scads and scads of drawings that will show you that at any one of these if if you have a five-bedroom house, you can get five parking spots um with without a problem. So, that was that was one of the things I wanted to take a look at. Now, here's where the problem does come in. The problem comes
in when you get to duplexes because obviously if you have four bedrooms and four bedrooms, you would want eight parking spots. If I go back to four bedrooms, and we'll go to the next picture. If I go back to four bedrooms, it would be impossible for me to get
eight parking spots. So, we have a lot of 40 wide lots in town. And then we have a lot of 40 um you know 40 uh fourbedroom homes at 588. So and again th those 30s and 40s because it's not
50s and 60s they probably represent a high total of the residential units you know 25% at least maybe a little bit more. So what I did was is I looked at what is the maximum amount of parking that I could get on a four four, right?
So two condominiums, four four um four bedrooms each. You can only get two inside, one each side because then you have the steps coming down and typically and if you want to jump in and explain a little bit cuz you own a couple of them,
you the steps have to be inside. So just past the garage, you have the steps to access both units and then you generally have a storage area. So that's good, right? That's good. So you have storage and that when you have a nice storage area, we're already taking care of that. Then people are more likely to use their
garage because garages, if you only have one garage and you have stuff, I I can see where it's kind of hard, right? But to have a storage area thrown in, that makes sense. So some of the things that we're doing architecturally are weighing into this. But what you're able to do on the back, and the people up here can see
it, um, is that you're able to get, um, cars across, and you're able to get on a 40, you're able to get four cars across. So, the total on a on a on two four bedroomedroom units would be six would be the total. I don't think you could do
more than that. So, in my mind, I would still like to make sure that all single family homes, four bedrooms have four parking spots cuz that's extremely doable. I would say that if I was going to make a recommendation, I'm not here to do that tonight. I'm just giving this information out so people have it. I
would say then if you have a four and a four, if you could produce six and this is all of the current zoning. This is no change in the zone, right? So you could give six parking spots. If you could, then we should. So we should say that then you need to do that, right? Um, now
when you start to go up to 50s, 60s and on. So on a 50 you would be able to basically if you have four two fours on a 50, you did five spots in the back and three garages. That's eight. So now
you're in a 50 with two fours, you've nailed it. You've got eight parking spots, right? And it's important because not everybody comes down at the same car. And in peak season, this is about peak season. So like you go to a mall, you go to Home Depot, most of the time most of the lot is empty in but the time
it's full is at Christmas. So people plan their parking by the most that they're going to have. Not the average they're going to have, but the most they're going to have. So that happens in those two months. So two fours and a 50 is golden. We're off to the off to
the races. So then if you look at a 60 wide, that's even better because you could have four garage units and six in the back. six and four 10 you could you could have two fives and you have um you have the parking for 10 bedrooms. So there's a
way to do this inside our existing zoning and and the conundrum was the was the um was the fourbedroom but I say you know what if it's not possible then you try to do the next closest thing that is possible. Um, and just to finish up,
you know, I I took a look at our last master plan and on your page number six, it says it says that owners and guests or resident units often require more parking is provided or required by ordinance. Increased parking requirements based on the size of dweller bedroom count. They're
recommending this. So, I'm I'm I'm not out of left field here. Our last our last um master plan actually recommends this. What I'm trying to do is get a common sense way to get there. And I appreciate the extra parking that you bought, but the beauty of this is this
extra parking is free. So, every time we build a new place and we add parking, and we should always deem to add as much parking as we can, and this does it without violating any current uh ordinances that I know of. Might a little bit. If it did, I I would say do
it. Um, but this is this is the type of research that I went through because I thought there was a lot of questions as to why would I want to do this? How would I want to do this? And this gives me an initial road map to you, the council, and anybody else that wants to to look at this. And I'm I'm just not
holding the pictures up uh because people own the properties. The one he owns, so I could hold it up, I guess, but I don't need to. >> You may as well hold it up at this point. >> Yeah. Well, the numbers aren't there anyway. So, yeah, about sleep way to go.
>> Um, so that that's just it in a nutshell. And that's all I wanted to get across is just some general research so everybody has something to take a look at. >> All right. Thanks, Keith. >> You're welcome. >> Sean, >> nothing. >> Tony, >> Peter,
>> I'm good as well. Um, we'll move in. Can I get a motion to adopt the regular city council minutes of Thursday, October 23rd? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Second. >> Mr. Barnes. >> Yes. >> Mr. Hartzell. Yes. >> Mr. Lovech. Yes.
>> Mr. Madden. >> Yes. >> Mr. Pchini. Mr. Crowley. >> Yes. >> Okay. We have a bond note announcement. Who's doing that? >> Oh, no. >> Goes off. Okay. >> Yeah. >> All right. Move into our ordinances. We have two ordinances tonight. First ordinance is 25-14. Can I have a motion
to introduce ordinance 2514 on first reading? >> So moved. Second. >> Mr. Barnes. >> Yes. >> Mr. Hartzell. Yes. >> Mr. Lovechuk. Yes. >> Mr. Madden. Yes. >> Mr. Pchini. Yes. >> Mr. Crowley. >> Yes. >> Okay. Ordinance number 2514. an ordinance amending and supplementing
chapter 17, streets, sidewalks, and sanitation, and chapter 25, zoning, and land development of the revised general ordinances of the city of Ocean City as they pertain to curb openings and parking. [Music] >> I got this. Good evening. the uh
currently our ordinance does not allow curb cuts for driveway access uh if you have alley access. And what we want to do, we have situations in town where there are certain existing
buildings where they have alley access, but the way they're built, they don't have a place to park the car. They don't have vehicle. These are older buildings. And what this ordinance does by amending chapter 17
and chapter 25, you have to go into certain sections of the ordinance, it allows in these specific situations a person to apply for a curb cut in their front or side yard to provide for parking for a vehicle where they have
alley. They haven't they're on an alley, but they don't have the ability to park a vehicle. And this uh this ordinance, we went in, we had our zoning officer look at it, and it amends one section in chapter 17, three sections in chapter 25
that specifically uh have this requirement that you you can't cut the curb uh in in uh unless you don't have alley access to address this specific situation. That's that's the intent of this ordinance.
All right. Thank you, George. Uh, comment, city council. Uh, Jody, >> I just Is that for existing structures only? That gets to Okay. So, not it doesn't apply to new construction. >> No. >> Good. Keith, uh, George explained it to
me in in depth today. Uh, it's it's a little hard. So, I walked over and looked at it and then it even made a little bit more sense. But, I mean, it um there was an issue in one neighborhood where a curb cut was cut. It shouldn't have been cut. we we're going to take care of that on top of that. So, some people thought there was
a relationship from that to that and and there wasn't and it's going to be taken care of. So, I have confidence in George's explanation as well as taking care of that one situation that I feel comfortable I can move on. >> Great. Sean, >> I'm good with it. >> Tony, >> I'm good. >> Peter, >> no questions.
>> All right. No questions. With that being said, have a motion to adopt ordinance 2514 on first reading introduction. Barnes >> second. >> Mr. Barnes, >> yes. >> Mr. Hartzell, >> yes. >> Mr. Lovech, >> Mr. Madden, Mr. Pini,
>> Mr. Crowley, >> yes. Second reading of public hearing will be held on Thursday, January 8th at 6 p.m. and will be published according to law. Second ordinance tonight is 25-14. Can I have a motion to introduce 2514 on first reading? >> So moved.
>> Second. >> Mr. Barnes. >> Yes. >> Mr. Hartzel. >> Yes. >> Mr. Love. Yes. >> Mr. Madden. Yes. >> Mr. Pchini. Yes. >> Mr. Cwley. >> Yes. >> Okay. An ordinance adopting a redevelopment plan and amending the zoning map accordingly.
>> Good evening, council. This is the ordinance which takes the Sea Spray property to the next the next step in in the redevelopment of that that parcel. On October 9th, city council declared that property to be an area needed rehabilitation.
So the next step is what should be built there. There's a attached to this ordinance a redevelopment plan that is a proposal as to what could be built there. Not the particular building but the zoning requirements for what could be built
there. Um at the end of this packet of of papers is an elevation showing you the vision of the contract purchaser for this property. um that's what they would like to build there. The this is a very small zoning
chart, but it shows you what they're proposing the zoning standards for the property to be based on what they would like to construct. So, this will create the land use controls for that site or the zoning ordinance for that site
regardless of who wants to build and when they do it. This will become the zoning ordinance for the property if it's introduced to Nana first reading. And then this ordinance also includes a referral to the planning board just like you would do with any zoning ordinance.
They the planning board will then review this plan to see if what they propose to do and these zoning standards that they propose are cons substantially consistent with the master plan. After they review that, they'll come back to you with their recommendation as to whether it's substantially their finding
whether it's substantially consistent with the master plan. And on second reading, you will decide whether this should be adopted as the zoning ordinance for that site. If you have any questions, we can send this to you in color and larger. I think some of you
have seen various versions of this. Um, the zoning shark does, just for your information, tell you what the current zoning as the 34th Street Gateway would require there and to what extent this proposal departs from that. Um, but if
you and it does depart from that zoning in a number of respects. For instance, on that corner, you would be required to have commercial on the first floor. Take a look at the site. Does would you prefer to have that or does it make sense to change the zoning to what is proposed here? that's what you're going
to be asked to consider. If you need more information or if you want to see blown up plans, just let me know. I'll send them to you electronically so you can see them. They are all on display or on file with the clerk's office so any member of the public can go down and take a look at what's proposed. This will come back to you again after
planning boards reviewed it and then you'll consider on second meeting and adoption. >> Thank you. Thank you, Daddy. Uh, city council Jody. >> Um, I got all my questions answered. >> Okay, Keith. Yeah. So, I've got some calls on this and and alls I can say is, you know, I
got involved in this property in 2006. This is how long this has been going on with various owners, various conduit groups and that type of thing. And you know, when I looked at this and it's sum total and and obviously there's things that people can find wrong with it and
that type of thing, but but the overall reason why we should move forward is because it's really the first time in all that time which is you know basically going to be 20 years that something came along that could be done doesn't match what everybody wants. I
understand that but at the same time it does match with somebody being able to get this done. I mean obviously you have to make a profit when you do something. I think this was well thought out um for this corner. I believe in it and I just want to say this about the the the
developers. Uh these guys were really serious and when you see the the drawings and the photos about matching um matching our shore theme. In fact, we were just a ribbon cutting uh downtown and Curry Design and the thing that
everybody talked about there was how you how you match the beach look. If you don't know what a beach look is, and I didn't when I moved here, somebody's got to tell you. And so when they first gave us drawings, it they would have been great in Philadelphia and the buildings were beautiful and they were historic
looking, but it's the beach. They took this so serious that they vacationed down here with their families. They rode around. They looked at stuff and when I had suggestions and how it should look before I ever said anything and they showed us is every one of my suggestions was already there. I don't have ESPN,
neither do I do they, but you know, they caught the essence of what this is. It's a prolific corner in our town that deserves the best and I believe this is the best solution. Um, you know, bar none. Um, they were they were easy to
work with. Um, they answered all our questions. They never got frustrated. They didn't they didn't talk down to us. They didn't try to push something on us. They had the art of listening. I'll tell you, we could all do better at that. They had the art of listening. And I really appreciated it. And I I also
appreciate the fact that, you know, and this is going to sound strange, but it's it's true in our market. Everything's so expensive here that their price points are extremely reasonable. Now, extremely reasonable for a two-bedroom. Guess what that is? About $750,000.
That's just the fact of the matter. So, they're not trying to put these huge units in there that people are going to have to spend a million and a half per unit. They they could have done something like that. Did less units, more money. I got to compliment these guys because unfortunately in Ocean City, whether you like it or not, 750 is
about what a starter condo cost. They're right in that number and they knew that they had to be in that number and they sought to get in that number. So, for all those reasons, I I I do want to see this move forward. I did get a lot of calls on it. You once I really and a lot of people had a lot of opinions. I
really appreciated it, but once we really talked it through, most people said, "Yeah, I kind of get it now." And the other thing that Mr. Crowley brings up all the time, so I'll steal a stunner because it's really important is a lot of people are just regular everyday people that own them there and they're upside down. So, we had to weigh that
into the decision. Mr. Crowley knows a couple people that live live there or their kids have bought there and the anguish of this. So, it's time to put a 20-year nightmare to bed and move forward. Thank you, Mr. President. >> All right. Thank you, Keith. Appreciate it, Sean. >> Yeah. So, like you said, I like the fact that we're addressing something that's
been taking a long time, over 20 years to address. It's um the developers so far have been pleasant to work with, open-minded, and to echo what Keith also said about the the tenants or the people currently on there right now, matching paying the mortgage for something you're
not allowed to live in because it's condemned. So, I think the city's stepping in the right direction and I look forward to working with the developer further. >> Thank you, Tony. >> Um yeah, just to piggyback off them, they the developers were great. They were very informative and took our
questions. And um also I'm I'm glad that we can finally move forward in this and help the people that are uh hurting for this and paying mortgages for not living. So I'm definitely for this. >> All right, John Pete.
>> That makes sense. Let's go. >> All right. I won't uh I won't say what everyone's already said, but um this makes a lot of sense. and this developer has uh worked with us from the beginning of the process, has been very responsive and and does want to do what's best for Ocean City uh in regards to this
property. So, with that being said, I I'll be supporting this project as well. And >> just reminds the board's >> Yeah. Yep. Thank you. Yeah. So, Dave's going to have a a board meeting which is the the Saturday after Thanksgiving, >> right? What's the date on that?
29th at 10:00 a.m. uh at the >> No, no, >> at the library. So, >> was that the phone? >> So, yeah, Dave will have that. >> He'll have all the drawings and some of the stuff that Doie referred to. So, if
if you want to come out and see that, it'll be a good opportunity to kind of really get your hands on it. and uh the devel developers will be there as well along with I'm sure Jay will be there and and Dave to answer any of your questions and and kind of move forward before we get to that second reading which makes it official. So with that
being said, can I have a motion to adopt ordinance 2515 on first reading and introduction? >> So move second. >> Just a real quick question on that. Daddy, I'm sorry. Or should I vote first? >> The 45day period that the uh planning
board has historically has that is it taken 45 days for this type of I mean this is a kind of a different project but >> no typically um we'll get this to Randy Schul right away. He'll get a report to uh the planning board for their first December meeting. So I would expect this
to come back to you in at our first December meeting. >> Okay, great. I'm sorry. >> All right, Melissa. Back to you, >> Mr. Barnes. >> Yes. >> Mr. Hartzell, >> yes. >> Mr. Lchuk, yes. >> Mr. Maddens, yes. >> Mr. Pulchini, >> yes. >> Mr. Crowley, >> yes.
>> Second reading of public hearing will be held on Thursday, January 8th at 6 p.m. and will be published according to law. With that, we'll move in the consent agenda. All resolutions listed on consent agenda are considered to be routine in nature and will be enacted 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. Does anyone have anything to be removed from the consent agenda? >> Nope. >> Okay. Good. >> All right. Do we have a motion to
approve the the um the consent agenda? >> So move. Second. >> Mr. Barnes. Yes. >> Mr. Herzel. >> Yes. >> Mr. Lovechuk. Yes. >> Mr. Madden. Yes. >> Mr. Pulchini. Yes. Mr. Crowley. >> Yes. Pending business, Jody. >> Uh, old business.
>> Pending. >> That one. We'll get the new. >> Could also be old. >> All right, Keith. Pending. >> Another quick one. >> There's nothing on there. >> You've used up all your time. >> Oh my gosh. This is why it's great to be retired. >> Yeah.
>> Yeah. I recommend retiring. You have a lot a lot of time on your hands. >> Is this everybody or just us? >> Uh, everybody. Everybody gets something. There we go. It's Christmas. This is our fun time here. Having fun. Everybody gets >> We got a risk.
>> Okay, this is real quick. So, again, I I was looking over the master plan from last time and I just wanted to uh if I circled E, which says I I took some criticism for this when some stores were empty, and I said I wanted to do something about at least making the the
the window look nice and inviting. And actually, that was a recommendation. So, I'm not off again on this. I'm not too far off. And basically, recommendation says encourage community arts displays to avoid to counter voids uh created by vacant storefronts. I'm I'm I'm pleased
to announce that we we don't have part of the act. Um but this is something that we Mrs. McCrosen and I did um did discuss and I'm just going to bring some uh stuff forward, not necessarily public, but I'm going to give some stuff to Mrs. McCrossen to see if we can get
this written up. I mean any, you know, when I'm I'm looking at this master plan and these recommendations are made, it says incomplete. We're all at fault for that. And I'm just thinking to myself, yeah, this is these are things I talked about. I didn't realize they were in the the master plan until it was pointed out
actually pointed out to me. Um, so I just want to let people know that some of the stuff that we're looking at, a lot of other people thought about it, recommended it. I'm not sitting by myself. It's certainly not my idea. It's a lot of people's ideas. And I think in honor of the people that put the master
plan together, we should make as much evidence we can to fulfill some of the requests that they had. Especially something like this, it just makes sense because, you know, when a store is empty, you can make it you can make the fun of it look fun. And for the most part, when stores are empty, we actually should have a shortage of stores right
now. When they're empty, that just means there's construction going on. Um, and I think it's a great way to put something up that basically says, "Hey, excitement, new business coming, any kind of information just to make it look nice so people don't say, "Oh my god, there's six these vacant stores, seven."
I went through this all winter and now we're just down to one that's for sale and one that the in my block and one that guy just won't do anything. But some of these other stores and the mayor mentioned it today and a lot of people mentioned it at this uh and Michelle did too, you know, at this ribbon cutting
the the level of stores are coming up. It's the place to be and I just think this will make us just a little bit more professional as we wait while people are working inside. >> Thank you, Keith. Pending, Sean? >> Nothing pending. >> Tony, >> nothing. Pete,
>> I'm good. New business, Jody. Okay. >> All right. Um I you know I just I want to I want to talk about something here with um transparency has always been a huge thing for me at this table and uh and as long as uh God and I guess my uh my
family allows me to to be at this table, I'll always do it with full transparency. So, uh, I want to address, I guess, fellow council administration and the public about something that's really been on my mind really hard for, uh, for the past year
and a half. Uh, and and that's the effect of, uh, I'm sorry, mayor, but the the effect of the the closing of Wonderland, okay? And and knowing it was going to close, the day that it closed, and the year that's gone by since it's been closed and what's happened. So, uh, everything I'm going to talk about here
tonight is I'm going to I'm going to tell you it's, uh, it's it's mainly my opinion, but it's my opinion formulated from after more than a year of really listening to every member of the public, business owners, okay, associations in this town.
It's weighed heavily on me. It's where I make my living, too. I care deeply about the boardwalk from all the way from Sixth Street to 14th Street, every business in between. A lot of them are my friends and my family members up there. It's pretty much all I know. It's where I was raised. So, I have a lot of
expertise in this field. Um, and what I never wanted to do was was ever come to the city council table with any sort of conflict of interest when it came to the boardwalk or my businesses or a business that's unfortunately no longer there right now. Um, and unfortunately, I
think we've all come to realize is never coming back. All right? And that's a reality. And that's a reality we have to face. Everybody, every business on that boardwalk has to face it. And we're all left with, well, okay, if not that, well, then what? Okay. Um, so we have a
we have an owner of that property now who has some ideas for that property that we don't all agree with, including myself. Okay. Um, there's some things I do agree with, but not all of it. All right? And I've listened to this I've listened to this panel. I've listened to the residents, visitors, everybody in
this town. I I I just for probably about as long as I could probably take now before I I I'm compelled to let out where I think we should be with this um with the utmost transparency and honesty. And um on August 21st, we were asked to vote on whether or not city
council should send that property to be an area in need of rehabilitation or redevelopment. Sorry if I say the wrong words. They're both sort of the same to me at this point. As to be an area in need of redevelopment. And we voted 6 to1. no on that for each of us had a
multitude of reasons as to why we were doing that. Okay. And I respect every person's reason up here, including the person who's was a yes and supported it. Since then, um I I reached out to um Council President Crowley, who by the way has done a fantastic job since he's
taken over as president. Um, but I reached out to him about a week or two weeks or so maybe after after that meeting explaining to him and the rest of the council as well as the administration how important it is that we put together a committee that takes a look at the boardwalk in general that
I'm not in a position to support a project over there in this sort of way until we've addressed the fairness of the other properties on the boardwalk uh where maybe they need some zoning relief as well if if we want to see their businesses continue for for generations.
All right. So, he acted quickly. He he used his his council president power or whatever you want to call it to put together, I think, a a phenomenal subcommittee of nine people for that are all Ocean City residents. Every one of
us are fully vested into this community in in different ways and offer different expertise. And we've met regularly for the past five, six weeks, month, month and a half or so. got to know each other. Got to know what we're going to uh bring to the committee. Um we've set
some committee goals. All right. Um we have a spokesperson. We have a uh Councilman Winsler is not here tonight is the uh head of that committee. He's the chair. So I don't want to speak at all tonight for that committee or what we've been doing in that committee. That's not my place right now. But it
does help formulate my opinion of where I am at on this matter. Okay? and uh and and and and I got to tell you where I'm at on this matter is um and this is again after a lot of consideration and a lot of thinking about this and and where
are we going is uh I I think we need to discuss putting this back to city council to determine whether or not this should be a property in need of rehabilitation or or or or redevelopment. I think it's important. And I think we've we've we've reached a
benchmark here where um you know I got a lot of reasons for this. Uh let's start with um I don't think anybody in this room or anybody in the city wants to see a property sit in the condition that it's in especially a I'm going to call it a 300 by300 size property. It's the
biggest property on that boardwalk. Uh I don't think anybody wants to see it sit like that anymore. I don't I know the businesses that surrounded who are couple of them going have gone out of business unfortunately I don't want to say the names but a few businesses have gone out of business this summer in that
block as a result of that okay that is a harsh reality two of them are good friends of mine it's a shame all right nobody wants to see and by the way these are options that the current owner or any future owner that he may sell the property to has at their disposal. These
are real options. They can leave the property looking just like that. How fun. That'll that'll be fantastic. They can tear it down and remove it. All right. And put up a gate. Even better. Let's look at nothing. That might be great for some of the surrounding properties where they get beach view for
a hot minute, but needless to say, we'll have a open space 300 by 300 lot on our boardwalk. Who is that attracting? Nobody. Okay. the developer tomorrow or or or excuse me, the property owner tomorrow can go subdivide that property.
You know what he has to do to subdivide it? Just find a bunch of boardwalk buyers. They're they're out there. There's people who want to own property on the boardwalk and own their own store. Absolutely. So, he can subdivide the property according to our on boardwalk zoning right now into 30 foot wide lots all the way down the 300 ft
until he gets to the corner, which that one would have to be 40 ft. All right. And then he'd have a lot of space in the back. Or maybe he keeps it as parking. Or maybe he goes to our zoning boards over the next year or year after or in 10 years or who knows when and tries to get relief to build housing back there.
Probably try boxes. All right. Is that what we want? Is that what Ocean City wants? Okay. Cuz I can tell you what we all want is amusements. We all want Wonderland. We all want Gillians. We all want something like that there. But I got news for you. Um, I just got back
from my 26th visit to the um, Ayata Trade Show. It's the world's largest expo, International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions. It's still going on right now in Orlando. Okay. Um, I sit on the, uh, the executive committee board for the New Jersey Amusement Association for many
years now. I'm the vice president. I know all the operators of amusement parks in New Jersey and in the tri-state area. I know them pretty well. Um, zero of them have approached me and said, you know, Jody, I would really love to run amusements in L in place of Gillians
over there. What's what's a pathway for me to be be able to do that? It nobody's done it. As a matter of fact, the opposite has happened. Um, anybody who's going to run an amusement facility like that where you have a 90-day, 100 day
working period of revenue is not interested in putting and and and I'm not speaking for anybody in particular. Okay? I don't want to quote anybody here. I'm just telling you what I hear. My credentials are there. All right? Jody, I wouldn't do it for freeland
there. Setup rides, okay? It's not happening, guys. It's just it's not going to happen. So what are we to do? I you know to me it's an easy algebra equation X equals take this property and
give it to our planning board of professionals and let's get their advice on it. All right. In the meantime, assuming they do, like what we did here at 34th Street, uh uh agree that that that's the case, city council as well as
our excellent committee that we've put together will hold all the cards to figure out how we're going to work with either the current owner, developer, whoever maybe he sells it to as to what the future looks like there. But what we're doing right now is um just I don't
know what you call it. Kicking it the can down the road, stalling um you know, making it harder on every business that surrounds that area. I I just I don't know what I don't know what you call it. Um and and and I know what I'm doing right now and what I'm saying is going to
piss off a lot of people that believed in me and and thought that um I was really doing the right thing on August 21st when I said when I said no and I gave my reasoning and you know I I understand that and and I don't regret any I don't regret saying no on August
21st. I wasn't ready. I needed to go through a few months of meeting with constituents more, listening to the public more, forming a committee, and I just I'd be lying if I went another day trying to say, "Nope, nope. We're not
ready yet." I I I think we're ready. I think I think city council needs to step up. We need to be smart about this. We need to create a relationship with what is going to be the future of that property. We need to create a relationship with what what that looks
like while we all have had a year to swallow the and rip off the band-aid. And I guess if I got to take a bullet from from some angry residents in town that are going to be at me, I it is what it is because I have people upset with
me because I'm a no. I have people upset with me because I'm a yes. At this point, it just doesn't matter. I'm going to have people agitated with me one way or the other. So, I'm at the point where I just have to and I could go on talking about this. I
mean, I I I I sat here on my phone and I put together a list of 20 reasons as to why. And then I tried to put together the same list of 20 reasons of why it's probably not time, why we need to keep on stalling, why should we do nothing, why should we hold the line. I couldn't
come up with them. So, here I am. That's it. you know, and I'll be happy to recite out the 20 reasons, you know, so that everybody understands. But that's that I'm not trying to make a vote on that right now either. Let me let me just stop for a second. I'm not trying to bring this to the table to vote on
this doing this right now. I'm just expressing my opinion on this uh under new business, new business that I would like to see brought forward at the next city council meeting. I'm given plenty of time, plenty of notice to have two other city council people to maybe join
me on putting it on the agenda for us to vote on it again because I know it takes three of us and I'm giving plenty of notice to the crowd. I'm doing it as out there as I possibly know how to do it. I didn't talk to I know this guy's mad at me right now. I spoke to nobody about this before this meeting other than
Councilman Crowley and I also called um our city solicitor to let her know that um I was going to be talking about redevelopment tonight. didn't really give her much insight, but I wanted to let her make sure she was here in case I had some questions for her about some of the things that I was um that I was going to recite, but I do I just do want
to bring a couple points forward also uh and just to sort of back up what I'm saying here. Okay, I mentioned that no amusement operators have brought any plan of interest forward. They've actually gone the opposite way. Okay. um any alternate ideas that have been
proposed and there's been quite a few as as nice as they are and as as clever of ideas that I've seen built in it that's great that's stuff we can work with but we need to get up the first step in this staircase here before we could even start discussing what we're going to do
like if we can't get that property into a rehabilitation or redevelopment phase I don't know what any developer is going to do with that property going forward it's nothing. I I don't see it there. Okay. Um and and and alternate ideas
that we've heard, by the way, I should add, all require the same sort of zoning attention that the current owner has. So, that's that. Okay. I've asked for fairness to the boardwalk in its entirety. I think I think we're really working on that. What we formed this committee. I can't say enough good
things about it. It's a good direction we're going in and I believe in that committee and the work that we're going to get out of it. Okay? Okay. I don't I don't need that to happen first, which may take us a year or more. Um, we've talked about the master plan tonight. We've talked about the the master plan re-examination report from
January 10th. Keith, you you brought up two things in there. Well, one thing that they had in there uh on page 45 talks about uh the the local redevelopment and housing law that was formed in 1992 which gives eight statutory uh eight statutory criteria
where only one needs to qualify from the LRHL in order for a governing body to consider a property to be in need of rehabilitation or redevelopment. Okay, there's there's eight of them here and I've I've gone to 600 Boardwalk a couple times. I've looked there. I've looked at
their um engineering reports from the the the current uh the current owner there and I got to tell you the first three the first three criteria and again you only need one in my opinion this is my opinion uh meet the requirements of
of that right um I don't need to read all eight of those but pardon me give me give me just a moment here I'm going to move on to my next thing. >> I had page 45. I didn't bring [Music]
Okay. All right. I I The entire business community of Ocean City, I mean, is made up of super successful people. I mean, we our boardwalk, our downtown offices, okay. Um, we have a a a a
really great boardwalk merchants association, a downtown merchants association. We have a tourism uh committee. All of these uh and of course our chamber of commerce. All of these entities have have put put themselves on the line of coming forward and
explaining how important uh a a project of some sort redevelopment, rehabilitation will be, okay, at 600 boardwalk and how it affects their business. We've also taken a look at how time could be of the essence. Okay. I'm I'm
seeing retail stores closing on that end of the portfolio. It's a hardship for the surrounding business community there. It it results in closed stores, which are lost jobs, a negative impact, and it it it just it kills our reputation of visitors wanting to come to the boardwalk when that happens. I
haven't seen a closed store in the summer on Ocean City Boardwalk in probably 25 years. I hope I don't see it this summer, but as of right now, there's a couple vacant stores um at the at that north end. All right. Plus, the whole look of it, it just it
just looks horrible. We have a developer if you assuming assuming he does what he wants to do and and and we're all good with it. You're talking about $150 million investment. You know, you know what that looks like on our municipal budget bottom line?
It's great. uh many of the concerns that that residents have shared with me over the last year and a half, I I've really considered those. Um I've considered them hard and most of those concerns have been addressed. I feel like I I I I
I feel that me speaking to people over the last year and a half with their concerns, never with me trying to talk somebody into it being a good idea, just me giving them the facts while I'm talking to them on the phone has converted more people into being, you know what, Jody, I think I'm I think
it's not such a bad idea. That's happened a lot without me trying. That's I was never trying to do that. It just facts presented themselves. People changed their minds. Okay. What most of the concerned residents who were were firm nose, you know, say a year ago, 6
months ago, the way they're talking to me now is saying, "Okay, Jody, well, you guys voted down the hotel. Well, since, you know, or since that's not going to happen, now what?" And you know what? I got a blank stare. I don't know what to tell them. We're working on it. We're working on it. Well, I am. We are. What are we working on now? What are we
really working towards? What's really coming out of it for 600 Boardwalk? I know what's coming out of it for the whole boardwalk, but what's coming out of it for 600 Boardwalk. Um, you know, we can't go back and change what happened in the past there. And I, you know, I'm just going to end it with
this. Um, you know, I I I love Ocean City just as much as the next guy does, as anybody. And, um, I make my living here and and this is my life. And and you know, I I'm not doing this cuz I have to do this or because I'm bored. I
I took on this role because I love the city so much and and I always knew there's going to be some hard decisions down the road that thank God there's going to be somebody like myself on board to be able to help navigate those decisions. Okay? And I and this is one of them. And this isn't easy. All right?
This this is not easy. No matter what side of this you're on, it's not easy. But man, I would just not be being honest if I continue down the I don't know. Let's be patient road because I know what that is. That's you go this way, it's a dead end. There's nothing
going on that way. If we stay the course we are, we take a turn, we bring it back to city council and and we have further discussion on this. Okay. And we move forward with something. You know, it's it's the same things apply. And please correct me if I'm wrong. Um D, you know
that everything you said about 34th Street with the with redevelopment there. If they were to sell the property or this or what have you, we hold the cards here. We're designing this thing. So >> that's right. So if city council were to
designate the area need a rehabilitation that does not approve any particular project. It could end up being something completely different from the proposals you have heard from date to date. It just puts you in a position to negotiate with someone who would like to be the
designated developer as to what the zoning standards including use would be. So if you designate an area need of either rehabilitation or redevelopment, you're not approving any particular configuration or use this gives you the
ability to start talking about what the best thing for us in city would be. >> Yeah. So I I would like to see this wind up on the agenda for our next meeting, Mr. President. And you know, I did this spiel tonight because I just didn't want it to wind up on the agenda and the public sees it 2 days before the
meeting. Everybody's in chaos and nobody knows how or why it got on there. Um, if it does wind up on there, it's because I brought it up here this evening. So, >> okay. Thank you, Jody. >> Appreciate it. >> Thank you. >> Second, >> Keith. [Music]
>> Keith, >> nice job. >> Even if I had something and it was life or death, I think I would just go to Shore Memorial. So, no, I don't have anything. >> All right. Thanks, Keith. Sean, >> nothing to add. >> Tony. >> Jody, great job.
And um I just uh I couldn't agree more. Um you know, when I said no, it was more because of my fear of hotels going up and down the boardwalk. But again, after a month and a half of
getting more facts and information, you know, it's all about numbers. And the biggest thing that I think we weren't listening is we have the control. We have the control. It doesn't mean what he wants gets up there. We control
that. So I don't think there's any harm in bringing it back to the zoning board for just that fact. Cuz I agree with with Jody. We're just going to keep going forward and nothing's getting done.
these Boro people, it's important. They make their livelihoods. The downtown, everybody that's in there is for it. So, uh, I agree with Jody that we should bring it back to the table. >> Okay, Peter.
>> Nope. >> All right. And I have nothing with that. We will go out to our public citizen comment. We'll start with this side. >> Councilman, I'm sorry. Before you do that, um, the ordinance that's being referred to the planning board with respect to the
cases spray, the announcement was January 8th, and I'm sorry, I looked at the I thought you were bringing it back on December December 5th. We're going to have to bring it back at the second meeting in December. So, we'll have to work that out with the
planning board, see if they can hold a special meeting because that would be 49 days if we go to January 8th. We need to bring it back before you within 45. So, we'll we'll have it back. Your announcement, if you would um should should indicate that Melissa, what's
that second meeting? >> That it'll be back before you for December 18th. >> So, ordinance day 2515 will be >> 14 and 15. Second reading will be on December 14th at 6 p.m. >> 18th. I'm sorry. Okay. >> Thank you. >> All right.
[Music] >> Is that your birthday? >> Of course. >> All right. We'll get a proclamation together for you. >> All right. >> Can we give >> citizen comment? Nelson, you want to go first? >> Folks.
[Music] Nelson. Dice. Nelson Central Avenue. [Music] In the Navy, they have a thing called bluff, bluf, bottom line upfront.
Love it. Makes me communicate better. I ask people, please give me the bottom line up front before I hear everything you have to say. I'll try to do that. The attorneys are anti-American in my opinion. After spending almost two
years in jail, courtesy of this local police department, I will tell you the Holy Spirit said, "William Campbell is my brethren. He wouldn't be chief of police if I didn't go to St. Peters dressed the way I wanted." And I was arrested, charged falsely with a forged
warrant, which I am proceeding with hopefully. Tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 I am hosting a public forum for people who wish to learn about the Declaration of Independence and the
other founding documents which still are the organic law not what a judge says necessarily. I have some free so one of the people who has attended brought some of his
gathering of constitution's declaration of independence they're free for the taking tomorrow 10 to 11 now at in the constitution it says in article six that judges
article six this constit Constitution and the laws of the United States, which which shall be made in pursuance thereof [Music] shall be the supreme law of the land, and judges in every state shall be bound
by the constitution. Anything in the constitution or laws of any state to the contrary notwithstanding, that means guess what? Judge Russell, Judge Freed are lying. They're not judges. And I can
prove it. The oath they take is not the oath Chief Campbell takes. Lieutenant, he was testifying that I trespassed on my uh church's property. I forget his name. Forgive me. Nice guy.
I like him. He was mortified because I tried to put the four organic laws of this country into evidence. You know what Judge Howard Freed said? Irrelevant. How do you like that? The Constitution
is irrelevant in a municipal court. Then what am I doing there? How have I gotten there? I will tell you how I got there. And it's meant to uh by the way PBS is running the American Revolution. My forefathers almost had their heads shot
off by cannonballs. I was like, man, what were they willing to do for me? Watch it. It's unbelievable. It'll give you new respect. So, they're administrators. They're not judges. All the way up to the justice of
this Supreme Court in New Jersey, they are administrators, not judges. So the next time I get taken to a municipal court when I haven't harmed anyone or hurt their property, I'll continue. The ad the executive
branch is responsible. It turns out the prosecutor I always thought this whole time they were part of the executive branch. No, they belong to the private membership association of the attorneys who are bar members. Okay.
Why can this council railroad anything they want up? I'm not saying you would, but up on the boardwalk because we're under the gold fringe flag. Downstairs there's a goldf fringe flag which gives this mayor the federal authority. Didn't
used to be that way in the state of when there's a difference between the state of New Jersey and New Jersey state. I am on New Jersey state. These people run the state of New Jersey. There's two things. common law and statutory law.
The state of New Jersey outlawed common law crimes. That's why they can take me by the neck and put me in jail in Anakora for 2 years illegally, unlawfully, but they do it because they can because
the attorneys have discretion. Thank you very much. See you at 10 a.m. >> Okay. Thank you, Nelson. All right. Anyone else? Citizen comment. Didn't you guys want to come up? Okay. >> Council mayor, >> just your name. >> Just name and address for the record.
>> Robert Leven on the uh Nor Easter condominium association. >> John, the Sunset Harbor Condo Association. >> So, I've uh spoken to and I'm representing the association as John is. Um I've spoken to my councilman. I've spoken to the chief of police and I've
actually spoken to the patrol officer who patrols the marina right by the bridge. So the noraster building you're coming into the city is the blue condominium buil building. Uh we spent several million dollars right next to
Snug Harbor. Um so that entire zone is a no wakeake zone. Not just where that no wake buoy is but it's on both sides. So, like I said, my councilman's helped me, the chief of police helped me. I finally
got to speak to the patrol officer who's out there and had some conversation. I said, "Look, we this is a major major issue. One, we spent millions of dollars repairing our building and repairing our marina, and
the wake is causing more damage to our marina than in Nor Eastern." But more importantly, more importantly, the officer said to me, said, "Robert," and I had spoken to him several times. I didn't know it was him, but I'd be out on the docks and waved to him. He said,
"Robert, we have one patrol. That's it. You know, one crew. Our number one priority is safety. I can't argue with safety." Well, in the last 10 years, uh, I was knocked off our docks and had meniscus knee surgery from Wake. My
wife, I have pictures of her where she got knock knocked off a jetport and had severe damage to her shoulder. And two years ago, we had a 10-year-old child because of wake get knocked into the into the bed. Fortunately, there were
people there and we were able to rescue her. This is a very very serious issue and if we don't do something we're all going to be sitting here one day and we're going to say someone died, someone was injured. It's diff and I'm not blaming
the police. The police can only do so much and they can't be there. We've tried to put up cameras. We have people cussing at us. We have people giving us the finger as they're just plowing by. They don't even know that the no wake is on both sides of the boot. They think,
well, we're a foot away from that. Like I said, it's on both sides because of the marshalling. And if someone's injured because of this, then we're all going to sit here and say, why didn't we do anything? It's easy for me to say we need to do something. Here's a simple
solution. I said it to the uh the patrol officer. Let's get another crew. Let's have them there. How are we going to pay for that? I'm telling you, if you put a vessel between the Sunset Harbor condominiums and ours, and you sit
there, you'll be ticketing people all day, all day long. And they cuz they won't stop. Or when the police are sitting out there, they see them, they slow down for those five minutes that the police are there. And again, they can't be. This is nothing negative against the police. I It's actually the
opposite. Our councilman was very helpful. The chief of police was very helpful and especially that patrol officer. He even said he'll come speak to the association about how we combat this. The truth is we can't combat it. We can take our video, you know, we can blow our whistles. We can have the
people cussing at us, which they do. When you tell the people, "Slow down, slow down," they give you the finger. They cuss at you and you have children out on the, you know, out out on the docks. So, it's a serious it's again, we can handle the maintenance, but we can't
handle someone's life. You know, it's no different than someone speeding by the school. I'd actually say this is actually more dangerous cuz speeding by the school, they're on school property. We have children out on a marina with water 30t off. Our marine is floating and bouncing up and down. And we have
people just following by. So, I I'm just asking if you guys can take the matter and I know you'll take it seriously, but we can actually try to do something. Right now, there's nothing the police can do. If the officer gets a call for safety or a vessel, he's going to leave.
It's it's just that simple. How can I expect him to be in two places at the at the same time? And if you want video, we'll take video. We can I can provide you all the evidence you guys you guys need. But it's it's a serious serious problem. And everyone know everyone
everyone knows it. Like I said, the officer I spoke to, he's like, "We know it. The chief of police has brought it to their attention and thank you." And asked them to spend more time there, but he's like, "We we just can't sit here. We're one vessel and safety's priority."
So, >> all right. Thank Thank you. But you want I would just add that uh you know for the last I've owned at Sunset Harbor for the last 5 years and it's probably 60% of the boats just below right through
there. They don't, you know, if there's police presence, you know, like Robert said, you know, they're all of a sudden they slow down. uh right at that bridge heading north. They're fine going by the uh fuel 10 street warf, but once they
hit that bridge, they've got it. And they they don't even know that uh that whole channel right there is um uh it's no way the whole way across and the docks are rocking all over the place all the time. It's just a matter of time and
tickets would probably pay for the cost of the boat over, you know, not a long period of time. Um, and so it's really something that's gone on for too long. >> Okay. >> Well, we'll definitely, you know, I'm in Favorite Harbor and I've got many
fingers thrown at me and we've done a lot of yelling and screaming and waving and I agree with you guys. Um, they they most of them don't even notice and wake up. That's the problem. They just go through >> or they they think they're on the outside when they see the barrel 200 ft, but it's with the marsh right over
there. >> It's Thanks so much for coming in. >> All right. Anyone else? Susan, Keith, they're probably upset with you for different reasons. >> Yeah. >> Oh, there's plenty of other reasons. Yeah. Never. Yeah.
>> Susan Crackander, 156 Avenue. Good evening, Mr. Crowley and members of council who has supported the formation of the boardwalk subcommittee. Thank you for staying the course amid recurrent requests for a revote. Your perseverance shows your commitment to planning for the future of a vibrant and
family-friendly boardwalk. We have heard again tonight a request for a revote on the designation of 601 Boardwalk as an area in need of rehabilitation that could result in the construction of a hotel. The rationale provided tonight and in the past is that business is down
and as a result tenants could be lost. But this is a misleading argument. Construction of a hotel does not happen overnight. Even with a rehabilitation designation, there is negotiation between the owner and the city as to what will be built. Then there can be
delays due to potential litigation as well as construction, weather, and material delays. At best, you're probably looking at a threeyear or better um at three years or better before an operational hotel exists. The effect of that the effect that that will
have on businesses at the north end of the boardwalk will be devastating. So, a revote will do little to resolve the concerns currently being voiced by merchants. Please stay the course and let the subcommittee gather data to understand the present so that they can make informed recommendations for the
future of the boardwalk. In the meantime, it must be a priority to develop and implement a comprehensive summer program that draws residents and visitors to the north end of the boardwalk to support local businesses and restore vitality to this end of the
boardwalk. There are plenty of opportunities to do this. Activities could focus on celebrations like the Carousel Turning 100 and America's 250th anniversary. Even bringing more sports tun tour tournaments to the high school stadium would bring more visitors to the
boardwalk and to town. But this requires the leadership like that exhibited with the establishment of the boardwalk subcommittee. I respectfully ask that you take the lead and bring together local government representatives, chamber of commerce members, business
leaders, nonprofit organizations, and residents to create opportunities that will bring energy, activity, and economic opportunity back to the north end of the boardwalk. The time to act is now in order for plans to be ready for this summer. Together, we can make this
happen, but it's incumbent upon your leadership and commitment to get the ball rolling. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Anyone else for citizen comment? [Music] >> Just so you know, it has to be on a different topic than before. Okay.
>> It is. Thank you. >> It is. I don't know if you all are aware. Can >> you just give the name on the record? Sorry. >> 44 Wesley Road, Ocean City, New Jersey. >> Thank you. I don't know if you all are aware that when a house goes for a CO, we requested
we had the party that was responsible for it was supposed to note the file for when the inspectors went out for the new building next to us in order to get the CO. There was an issue that was flooding us. We require people to have a separate
meter and have to irrigate their yard. But do you all realize that when they go out and they do a home inspection? And even when I said it was supposed to be done and I requested that they do it, they told me, "Ma'am, mind your own business. Go back in your house. We know
how to do our job." Nobody turns on the sprinkler system to make sure that it's actually watering all of the ground that we're collecting money for and it's actually functioning
the way that it's supposed to work. It seems kind of ridiculous to me that it is a requirement when you build new housing to have an irrigation system and it's not part of the inspection to make
sure it's up operational and watering all the property it's supposed to be watering. But they're not required to do that. And I could tell you they don't do it. And it just seems kind of ludicrous to me
that it's an oversight and I really don't understand why it's not being done and I wanted to bring it to all of your attention. Have a separate meter. It's required and nobody even makes sure that it's really where it's supposed to be doing what
it's supposed to be doing. The other thing I wanted to say is Jody, I agree with you very much. I know other people on the boardwalk and they have the same complaint that the last few years they've lost increasingly more money. The only thing that I would ask that you
take into consideration if this comes back up is that we're only, I believe, one of two high schools in the country that has the distinction of being on the beach. And when I first moved here with
my daughter in her first field hockey game, one of the greatest things when your establishment was open was she almost got scored on because she was fascinated watching the ferris wheel with all the lights going around.
>> That would be me >> and listening to the calmness of the surf. People come down here during the summer for the battle of the football stuff, the um minor soccer league
things, the outdoor basketball. Um, I think it would be a good idea if we tried to get more girls sports other than just a couple um 77 clinics or whatever for field hockey, but there's a lot of opportunity and I would ask when
this comes up for a vote on whatever is built there that it doesn't wind up ruining the sound and ruining the distinction that we have of having a high school on one of the only two on
the beach. My problem with the the hotel was that when they were planning on going across, all the dumpsters would be back there. Who wants to play football in the summer and smell rubbish or go to a sporting
event and smell rubbish? If they could figure it out, it would be great. There's something that's got to be done with that. But please, let's take into great consideration the distinction we have of the high school and all of the sports and all
that are drawn. To that end, regardless of what isn't there anymore, it's not coming back. People could have done a GoFundMe, buy it, and run it themselves if that's what they wanted to do. Nobody did it. But please, let's keep the
integrity of the high school and the luxury that we have for our kids that make it so special that it is on the beach. You can hear the surf and we get a large large population that comes down
specifically to play football on the beach. >> Thank you. Anyone else for public comment? Kaylin, come on up. Caitlyn Quirk, uh, 956 Asbury Avenue,
Downtown Merchant President. Thank you, council, uh, for allowing me to be here tonight. Thanks, Nelson. Um, the Downtown Merchant Association, um, met this past week. Um, and we actually had one of our biggest uh, showings that
we've had in a while. And I just asked the group simply again, you know, do you still want me to continue to support the redevelopment of 600 BOGO? And specifically, do we as a group want a hotel there at that location? Um, and
the answer was one of unity and unity and support. Um, I didn't have a single person speak out against it. So that's why I'm here again speaking tonight because whether anyone wants to say it directly or not, um our community
is facing a fork in the road with two different futures lying ahead, right? Um one future keeps our business community intact in the size it is today. The other leads to contraction, a smaller
boardwalk presence and a quieter, less dynamic commercial district. Um, I have to very respectfully dis um disagree with Sue in the fact that even if this does take three years, which is probably the case,
moving forward with the project sends a signal not only to our business community, but also to anyone that vacations here, that we are moving forward. We're not staying stagnant. And I really want to applaud you, Jody. Thank you for your time, consideration,
and changing your mind. and also Tony. Um, I know it's not easy to sit in those positions and have to hear all the people that you have to hear and hear all the sides. Um, but I want to just kind of say thank you for for that and
for sticking with, you know, the process of doing your due diligence, right? And I just want to leave you guys with this. You know, changing your mind is not a sign of losing integrity. It's often a mark of gaining wisdom. Realizing you were wrong doesn't mean you lack
judgment. It means you lacked knowledge. Opinions are what you think today and growth comes from staying open to revisiting your views tomorrow. So, thank you for that. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. All right. Anyone anyone else for public comment? George
learned a lot since tonight. Changed my talk a little bit but not a lot. George Bower, 5133 Central Avenue. I've recently experienced a big shift in council. The meetings appear to be taking on a positive approach to
situations. Approximately a couple weeks ago, whatever council pulling together created a subcommittee to address the north end boardwalk situation. I stress pulled together. They put together a community, a committee comprised of representatives of all affected and
interested parties. In response to an earlier statement, I would like to put forward that well uh that not one committee member is unaware of the serious plight of the boardwalk merchants. They're all very aware of the situation and are addressing it as we
speak. The approach is two-pronged, short-term and long-term, both critical to the future of our merchants and the wholesome spirit of Ocean City. This is without question the most effective, intelligent path to answering the boardwalk situation. With an intelligent
mix of interest, experience, and expertise, the sub subcommittee will address will reach a very suitable recommendation. They have made a plan that time is a serious issue, but not to be used as an excuse for inadequate resolution.
subcommittee is approximately two weeks uh two months old whatever and I've begun and uh excuse me and begun their meetings. It's unrealistic that their research be cast aside. How can the re request be made to abandon the subcommittee and just charge full speed
ahead not knowing all the facts and considering all the factors that are involved for the benefit of all parties. Let them do their job. As I said in a previous letter to the editor, congratulations to the council for putting this team effort forward. It's very premature to declare this team
effort ineffective and to skip right over it. I'm not part of the subcommittee, but I have already come up with ideas, albeit they are not fleshed out yet, and none could have any value. But I encourage everyone to jot down the ideas they get in the middle of the
night. We would not hear them. Uh I'm not Oh, sorry. Um short term I have an an inexpensive short-term simple and very short time frame of ideas to prepare for. Let's
learn from the success of city town and village centers throughout the world and of course Disneyland. We desperately need need the demographic of children to drive our efforts. What are what draws our children?
going to an area of the boardwalk where they can see, interact, get photo ops, and be welcomed by fun, friendly costume characters. Add street performers, musicians, jugglers, light shows, laser shows, food concessions, big screen entertainment, a big checkerboard, face
painting, mines, artists, pet shows, high school bands and competitions, Ocean City Police Department, fire department with bike safety demos, and get a certificate. Let's create a north end mascot. Big soft building blocks. A maze with
different starting points based on age. Radiocontrolled model boat tank. Coloring contest and display their art. A big whack-a-mole game. Encourage kids to dress up. Invite the Sentinel to come take pictures and publish them in the for the kids and their families. That
benefits everyone. We could have a year-round Santa in shorts and t-shirts for pictures and early requests. Decorate your bike. decorate your dog. One night could be pajamas and we would accommodate a rainy day evening with a new agenda. I would also add that the
existing boardwalk merchants get a free vendor stall that matches their business profile. I believe if we could put together a large or small combination of these attractions, we would have a very successful draw to the north end of the boardwalk. Again, inexpensive, very
rapid implementation and give us time to create the true value on a permanent project that will continue to support our businesses within the parameters of the true wholesome spirit of Ocean City. This was just one hour of thoughts. Think about what you could come up with. Thank you.
>> Thanks, George. >> Anyone else for comment? >> Jim, >> good evening, council. Uh, thanks for your commitment uh to this city. Um, President Crowley made a good decision
to form the subcommittee to look at at the boardwalk. Um, by doing so, he put uh together a process that will serve the holistic interests of our city. I'm I'm a member of that subcommittee
and since uh you know, Jody Councilman uh Love Check you commented on I I thought I should comment as well. Um through that committee I've gotten to know the other members and and I've become friends with them and I think Jody Love check in particular um I
admire Jod. I admire his business. I admire his commitment to Ocean City. But I want to address two things u that were said tonight. Uh one, Jod's one member of that committee. You have eight other accomplished individuals with vast
business experience, experience um in city planning, land use, and people who are dedicated to Ocean City and what's best for Ocean City. Don't forget about the eight other members of this council.
The other is is this notion of control. Councilman Lovech mentioned, you know, that control was is somehow magically given to you through the rehabilitation process. Councilman Pchini echoed that and I've heard this several times. Let's
be clear. City council has control of this situation and has every tool to negotiate and I just ask that you give the process that President Crowley asked nine members of this city to commit to a
chance. A month and a half is not a chance. It is haste and it is rushing a decision that shouldn't be rushed. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, >> Wes. Good evening everybody. Quest Kazmark
825 Penland Place uh board president uh and owner of the surf mall. Wasn't planning on speaking tonight so bear with me because I am uh member number two of that committee. Uh but since my friend Jim here spoke I guess why not. Um I'll be quick. Uh two points I'd like
to make. Um one Jody thank you very much for speaking up and Tony and Pete for backing him up. It was all um Jody is somebody who's been here his whole life. I've known him my whole life on this boardwalk. He does understand uh what is at stake. I think he's done his due diligence. I respect you for coming out
and talking tonight about this. I know that wasn't easy and you are right. It's probably going to aggravate some people. Um, the second point I'd like to make, um, with all due respect to the people who have these great ideas for the boardwalk and what we should do in the meantime and what is best for this town
and things like that, um, I'm not going to claim to be an expert at many things and I would never uh, go to someone else's profession and tell them how to do it. But when people have ideas for the boardwalk, I can assure you um the best idea would be like what Caitlyn
said, some excitement about what could be heading that way or at least some kind of progress. And then when that is it is years away, you're right about that. And that progress would be something that would be exciting for people. All these other things that people suggest, you don't understand the boardwalk and how the tourism economy
works. And it's okay to express your opinion. Um, but it's just that and it would be not effective on the boardwalk. Um, I again, this is just a step. It would be a progress stop or not to hear uh what people have to say. Um,
Councilman Hartzel, you one time, I listened in one of your council meetings that I wasn't at. Uh, and you mentioned how whenever you make a decision that you always get as much information as possible. You ask a lot of experts about what you should do before you do it. Um, that is what I view this as. Um, I would
love to see you guys move forward with this and keep the ball rolling a little bit. Thank you very much. >> All right. Thanks, Wes. >> Anyone else for public comment? >> All right. Seeing none, have got a motion to adjurnn. >> So moved. >> Second. Third.