Yeah, that's a good idea. Good evening, everybody. How are you? Good. Nice to see some faces in the in the crowd this evening. Uh, welcome to the Venner City Commission meeting, uh, June 12th, 2025.
Um, I'd like to call that to order. And if you could all rise for the flag salute, please. I pledge allegiance to the flag United States of Americ. Commissioner Langraph here. Commissioner Menso. Mayor Kos here.
Right. All right, let me get the mic situated. Uh Nicole, are you uh online? Great. Are our solicitors online? Um uh item four, uh open public meeting announcement pursuant to the open public meeting act. Adequate notice of this
meeting has been provided. The agenda for this meeting is posted in city hall and on the city's website at www.venorcity.org. Uh we also have a live streaming announcement. The city of Venner offers live streaming in the option of public
comment via remote access as a convenience to the public. In the event remote access is unavailable for any reason beyond the city's control, the city will not pause or stop the live meeting. The city reserves the right to discontinue remote access at the
discretion of the city for any future meetings. So a slight um disclaimer there. We're going to do one uh resolution before in the workshop session um to to vote upon. This is a uh
an appointment of uh uh uh Christopher Cook as a fire captain. So I'll ask for um a motion to appoint resolution 2025-190A resolution city of Ventner County of Atlantic State of New Jersey appointing
Chris Cook as fire captain. He's already been sworn in. I'll make that motion. Second. Have a roll call. Cindy. Commissioner Langraph. Yes. Commissioner Mento. Yes. Mayor Cable. Yes. All right. Item seven, we have no department head reports. We do not have
capital discussion this evening. Um and the following items scheduled for action at the uh 20 at the 1612 portion of the commission meeting. Uh we have no minutes
and we have two introductions of uh ordinance 2025-017 and 2025-018. However, these are replacing
um uh or uh ordinances uh 10 and 11. So, we'll be taking no action on those later ordinances. But the first I'll I'll read um the first ordinance, which may be the reason why some folks are here tonight is regarding um uh is 2025-017.
And it's an ordinance amending chapter 75 uh entitled bicycles roller skates if people still roller skate. There's a guy up there. There's a roller skater guy up there. And uh he's got a key for the
roller skates. And um and skateboards. So this was a um this is one this particular ordinance is going to replace ordinance number 10 which had some errors in it which were more clerical than anything else. And I just want to describe um what that and we have a
little discussion about it because I I think uh we've been talking about it online a little bit about what that really means. And I and if if I can just lead off by saying the in original intention here was to to to have the
existing hours which are summer season 6 a.m. to 12 noon and on uh and on Saturdays and Sundays from July 1st to Labor Day and the rest of the year is daylight hours
um on all days on the on the remainder of the year. and the the addition of adding hours in the evening from 5:00 pm to 10 pm every day. So, it's really just an addition, right? The only change is adding the hours in the evening. So, no
other changes to that ordinance, no other changes in the hours that are posted on the boardwalk now and except that we are going to add those and and I think it's important to say because there was discussion about them as well that ebikes are not contemplated in this
that discussion has been talked about over and over again. Um uh from the public safety standpoint in my department, the police department still doesn't support the any type of ebike because of the weight that it carries and the potential speed whether they be
um whether they be handicap or not. Um at this time that department isn't contemplating uh supporting any of those uh changing in the a in the ebike. this particular ordinance and this particular day and this particular time refers to adding evening hours which I think we
all support. Um and um anybody clarify this is year round the evening hours. Well in in the offseason you're allowed in the evening daylight hours. Yeah that's not evening. That's not evening. Well yeah correct but I think you don't
offseason we don't mind people riding on the boardwalk at any time. Right. Right. Shut it down probably 10 o'clock. I guess that was my question was is it that is the cut off 10 p.m. So I I would like to suggest also that we do away with the words daylight hours and actually put the time there. So 6 a.m.
to to noon where there's any restriction and then as far as the year round it'll be 6:00 a.m. to 1000 p.m. Right. Every day. Okay. I agree with that. That's fine. I think it's just a matter of completeness. I would agree with that. Make it clear daylight because it daylight changes right? and you know
during the evening daylight changes. So there is going to be a portion at the be at there's a this is a two-part meeting for those who haven't been here that often. So we have a workshop meeting where we as a commission and governing body discuss the things like we just did and then at the end of the workshop prior to the
to the actual commission meeting we have a point where we can bring up anybody in the public to talk for three minutes about anything that's been discussed so far in the workshop meeting. So and online as well. So, if if we're all in agreement as a governing body about that
wordage, I think we can move on. Um, uh, Nicole, do you you follow that conversation? She was on there. Jim, is she muted? Yeah, she's on. It's just under Nicole. She had to change some stuff. Okay. I have to actually ask
her to unmute because she can't do it by herself. Okay, she's unmuted. Okay. Did I do it, guys? Yeah. Good. Hi, Nicole. Hi. How are you? Thanks for uh accommodating me today. I appreciate it. Um yeah, so we're good with the the
bicycle ordinance to move forward for the 10 p.m. cut off at the for year round. Correct. Is that what we're correct? Okay. All right. And we're doing 5 am
6 6 am 6 am okay all right very good it was five we should we should we should keep it at five was it five yeah for the office I believe it's currently six yeah the the ordinance says six and the
okay you can ask our expert think what we did no it's still last Correct. Correct. We had we had talked about moving it to 5. It was going to be 5 to 10, then 5 to 10 a.m. and then PM.
Um, so my suggestion would just be whatever it is, it should be consistent in the inseason and offseason, either five or six. I mean, that doesn't I don't have a problem with it being 5 to 10. In the summertime, the sun's up at 5:15. Yeah. So, people are out there, I would say.
And definitely in season, it should be 5:00 a.m., right, to noon, right? And in the off season, it's pretty dark and cold at 5 a.m. in the morning. So, I don't know if that's right. Probably monitor itself that way. Yeah, I would think
5 a.m. 5 a.m. Yeah. Keep them both the same. Both the same and consistent. All right. All right. We all agree. Yes. And and Nicole, we're we're good to go ahead and introduce that uh by title only. Correct. As as we've discussed, we can
introduce it by title only. We'll have it um finalized for publication uh later today or tonight and all right. So, thank you. So, that's uh 2025-017 bicycles, skate, roller skates, and
skateboards. 2025-018 is uh re regarding um outdoor dining and um premises expansion permits. I think this was just uh in relation to uh clo the the proximity to the curb, correct? Yes, there is there was um one or two
blocks of property where because the outdoor dining was part of the streetscape the way that we had drafted the ordinance to be six feet from the curb would not have worked for those particular properties. So, this is just a carveout, if you will, for those very
specific um areas. And it's it's just for that one particular area um and nothing else. Understood. This would remain six feet from the curve. And if any other you know streetcapes happen in the future, they can be carved out as well. Is that correct? Yeah. You can
always come back and amend it. Any questions on that? No, I think it's good the way it is. Yeah. Except don't have to do another ordinance. Yeah. Yeah. Well, that's what we're that's part of the job, I guess. Thank you. And same same question about
procedurally, Nicole, we're good to go ahead and introduce 18 by title only. Yes. And and then 10 and 11 are going to die. Yes. I I believe the clerk's office should already have a copy of the revision that was just discussed for that outdoor
dining ordinance. All right. Thank you. So that covers uh 2025 018 outdoor dining and premises expansion. Um 2025-010 and 2025-011.
There's no motions are necessary for that. No actions are necessary for that. They are uh going to be in a sense tabled because of the the changes that we are um uh replacing them with. Does
that make sense? Yep. Uh then we have a group of ordinances as well that um will be tabled uh 20 25-014 the um the bond ordinance uh-015 and also the bond ordinance and 016
because of uh legal advertising constraints and so we'll be tableabling them until July 10th and they will be back on the agenda. Any questions on that? Nope. All right. Um then we will have
uh a series of um resolutions by consent. Uh first one being 2025-191. This is a uh chapter 190 159 which is income from a uh green acres uh a green
I'm sorry a green communities grant for $20,000. So approximately so this is something that will be um folded into our revenues. Uh any any comments or no green on that? It's always good to get money. Always good to get money which is the next uh which is also a clean
communities grant. This is also chapter 159, which is $42,000 green uh clean communities grant, which will go into um uh into our revenues. Um again, it's always always good to have uh income. And and just to clarify, these are these
are both a revenue and an appropriation. It's an offsetting appropriation. So, it has no net effect on the budget. It doesn't affect taxes or anything, but we don't just take the revenue in. It's a revenue that you have to spend for a specific purpose, right?
And so that's for uh um green communities and uh and clean communities. Um next is um a uh refund of short-term rental. Uh
that's a one uh resolution uh 97. That's a some bookkeeping for uh um for a short-term rental fee. Did you have any questions on that? I'm sorry, 193. Oh, I'm sorry. I said
195. 193. Uh next resolution is uh 125-194. Um this is a overpayment to a vendor fee to uh Daisy Palumbo. Um, Commissioner, um, Mento, you have a an amount for
that? $455. If that's read in, um, we can we can we can vote on that as described. Uh, any other questions? No. Uh, resolution one, resolution, uh,
2025-195. Um, this is a uh new agreement for use of uh I'm sorry, this is a um yes, this is a new agreement for the the seniors and the employee parking at the um uh at
the library facility and the nearby parking. Do you have a any comments on this? This was your It's really It's really to serve the seniors at the nutrition site to provide for uh parking uh that the county will pay for. So the county reimbures us for the use of the the metered parking in that space.
Correct. Just Yeah. Just during the hours of the nutrition site. So I think it's 9 9 to two I think. Yeah. Okay. All right. I appreciate that. It's a busy place especially this time of year. Um then we move on. Uh I hate for that
just to be clear. Yes. The county. Yeah. Yeah. We negotiated a deal with them this year. We used to do it on a reimbursement basis and they had to keep logs of how many people were parking and giving them a sticker and all this stuff. So we negotiated a lump sum payment this year of $8,000. I think we
actually collected uh in reimbursements last year about $7,800. So it's a very slight increase to us, but it should uh cover that and allow us to accommodate u up to probably about 50 people in those spots. Just wanted to be clear. We're
not giving away parking. No, no, no. I I I apologize if I didn't make that clear. This is a contract with the county to reimburse us uh for or to pay to pay us a fee for use of parking for the senior center um that that would otherwise be used by the general public and then
would result in fees to us as well. So, um moving on, we have resolution 196. This is the four hires for your department. Yep. Commissioner Langraph, do you have any comments? Yeah, we have uh Colin Nolan who just came out of uh US Marine Corps uh looking for some some
summer work. He may be a carryover. We may keep him on for the six months to see how he does. Um and then three gentlemen, young gentlemen that are looking for just summer work. Connor and Langden Singleton. I challenge you to determine which is which because they are identical twins. Oh no.
Really tall guys too. We have two identical twins. Oh, no. That's okay. And Anthony de Joseph. Um so we'll be hiring those guys. They will they've cleared I think they had their fingerprints done today captain. Okay. All right. Um so hopefully they're
they'll clear that which they should and uh we can hire them bring them on on Monday. We need the summer work. So yeah, usually wait right till schools are getting out. So they they got out early. Um they live here for the summer and looking forward to starting or at least the two of them do. Um I don't know Anthony Joseph as well, but I
certainly know Colin Nolan. U we know his family um pretty well. So great. All right. And then uh Commissioner Mento, the next resolution is 2025-197. This is uh hiring of uh recre Oh, no. This is recreation and aids for special
events. It is special events resignation. And so we're hiring someone to fill that vacancy to work our events and our concerts and uh social media aspects. Great. Great. Glad to glad to hear it.
Um I'm sure she'll be busy. And then moving on to uh we have a group of resol resolutions here that are all the same topic. So I'm just going to um I'm just going to summarize H through R. These
are our uh re uh renewals of three consumption liquor licenses and eight distribution liquor licenses. All these uh license holders have done their due diligence with and all their paperwork is in order with the city, the state,
and any um any uh sales tax that they've uh they they need to pay. So, this is um our entire uh there's another one at the end, but this is our entire uh roster of um eight individual distribution liquor
licenses. In other words, uh, liquor stores and three consumption liquor licenses, which are, uh, restaurant bar licenses. So, if there's any other comments on that, it's really just a procedural thing. Um, so that brings us to resolution
2022-209. And this is a renewal of a program we've been doing since 2004. Um this is a long this is the process which is with Atlanta County uh improvement authority for administration of the program uh for income for small
city grants for housing and rehabilitation. Do you have any um any comments for that? I think no they manage it for us for years. Manage it for us. Yeah. It's used to be Joe Geral but when he stepped up in the county clerk it's it's somebody new over there now. Great. They do a good job for us. Yeah. Yeah. It's and it's it's a needed
uh uh service. All right. Any other any other comments on that? So, moving on to uh resolution uh 2025-210. This is um management and oversight for
the design and construction of the tennis and pickleball courts not to exceed $87,000. This is to uh Paulina and Associates. This is also So, what we did with the basketball court, which should open this weekend, great. I'm hoping they had to
do the final final coating of the of the uh surface. Um redesign the tennis pickle ball courts. If you've been out there, we have we've been having trouble with cracking. Um we're going to redo the whole things. We're just not going to mess with the cracking anymore. We've been patching it, patching it, patching
it. So, we hire we're going to hire Polyine Associates to go out there, figure out what's causing it, take out the surfaces, take it right down to probably beach sand, and then rebuild them. So, no real changes to the layout. Uh we may make one or two of the tennis courts a multi-court thing for pickle
ball that can be used for both. Um but we're going to keep the the same number of of tennis courts that are available. We're not going to reduce that number. So just when needed they can use them. They'll have the lines on there already to be able to be used for pickle ball. Great. Um so it'll be fencing, lighting,
new surfacing, everything. So just like we did with the basketball court. Okay. And that'll that won't start. They'll do the design now bid it out and construction over the offseason. Do you think it makes sense to tap Diana in some of these conversations as the design goes through just to Yeah. just
to get some background as the year goes by? When they get some some concepts up, we'll we'll bring her in and down with her. The pick and the pickle ball association um not as is more active than tennis and the basketball, but they may not as a you know something to bring
it up bring it up. Um so that brings us to um 2025-1-211. Um this is uh part-time employment um authorizing seasonal part-time employment. These are
uh for uh wreck. These are new court attendants and um and uh camp counselors which happens every year. Um, so this is increasing our roles for the increase in activity in those two departments in the recck department and that's 211. Any
questions on that? No, several of these are actually returning from uh prior years. There's only uh two or three that are new. The rest of them are returnees. Return and those are all vetted through the the recck department board. Yes. They've all
passed uh background checks and the recck board approved them all. Right. Um, and let's see. Um, I will say a nod to Diane. Thank you for your service on the rec department all these years. Appreciate what you do
there. Um, next is 2025-212. This is uh this is a a standard um general resolution for enforcement of parking. This is whenever there's an event of some sort that requires mis
miscellaneous changes of parking enforcement or no parking on the city that this is the resolution that the police department um falls on for those uh for those events. So again, this is a a ma matter of a an annual.
Um next is 2020 5-213. Um this is an appointment of Amy Stover, CFO. This is again sort of a in a way a rec a house cleaning in a way
appointment. Do you have any comments on that for Yeah, let me ask you what it was. I meant to ask you that earlier. It should have been done in January. We missed it. Right. She when Amy was originally appointed, she initially had to serve out the balance of the term of her predecessor, which was the end of
24. So at the end of 24, she should have been appointed for her own term. And that's what this does, right? at the end of 24. No, at the end of 24 is when it should have been done. So, this is effective January 1st, retroactive January 1st of 25 and it's going to
carry through for the three years 256 period of tenure that a after she serves her own full term and gets reappointed, then she's eligible for tenure. Okay. Uh any other questions? No. No. Um,
that's for Amy Stove, who's not here this evening, I don't believe. Um, and then next is 2025-214. This is the last of the renewal of the liquor licenses that I spoke about before. This is one of the three um consumption licenses that is up for that is renewed.
All paperwork has been filed. Next is 2025- uh 215. This is um resolution of accepting the retirement of uh Joseph Daniels from our fire department.
Um someone was as as residents here, we probably all seen the the Daniels uh lawn care. His father took care of my lawn for a little while. Um and he is uh uh retiring after 20 years of dedicated
service as of July 1st. He's uh leaving the Vener City Fire Department to allow him to operate his family business more efficiently. Um and he takes great care of our island. Um he's always done his job in a manner that has allowed his officers to rely on him as a resource
and for training junior members. Um he's a integral part he's always been an integral part of the puzzle that the um the the fire department is and um and has always worked in a professional and expeditious manner. uh gets kudos from
our chief uh who uh on on his behalf and mine. Any other any comments on I thought he was retiring to play more volleyball. That's possible too. I used to play with him. I'd like to go back to 213 on Amy. I just want to say we hired Amy from the county. She was
their controller, assistant controller. And um while she was here, for one reason or another, a key um person in the finance department would leave or go out for an extended period of time and she would learn their job and jump right
in. And she came over as a certified county finance officer, which is a big deal. And while she was here, um, she had to go get certified for the municipal finance office as a municipal finance officer, which really, in my opinion, she should have just been able
to get it, but the state makes you go through hell a little bit to get you certified. So, she did that while she was here. She passed the test. She became certified. And um she has stepped in so many roles while she was here, but she pretty much
carried us through times that um you know we may have been deadlocked without having Yeah, she has a good job for us. I I agree. I'm happy to see her appoint it now on her own term and um look forward to continuing working with her. Yeah. Yeah. I think to her credit that
it's been a seamless uh information um when it comes to the budget years every year. She is like it's like she knows exact she she steps into all those numbers and and reports them to to Tom and then reports them to us. It seem I've felt no lack of uh opinion in my
take on her. She doesn't um she doesn't try to fake it if she doesn't know something. She does the research. Yep. And she gets the answers. She doesn't she doesn't fake it. I I tend to ask for obscure numbers and comparisons or numbers over years that she puts up with
and replies to. Yep. So, any other comments on No, Amy. All right, we're getting close to the public portion, folks. Stay tuned. Um, next is we'll have bills and payroll. We have to add one on the Oh, I'm sorry. We do. We have a we're adding one uh one uh we go to
all the way to Z. So, we're at 2025- 216 adding on the bench the air quality pro uh program. Tom, do you have any comments on that? What's an ordinance we're adding for compliance? Now there there is a requirement for employers to
have uh a written indoor air quality program and designate a person to be responsible for uh assuring compliance with the state regulations. Uh we learned recently that we were deficient in that that we didn't have a written uh
plan. Uh we acquired one from a model from the Atlanta County Insurance Fund and uh we put together a written program that'll satisfy the state's requirements. This resolution uh adopts
that program. Okay. And names Rick Santoro as the uh public works superintendent to be the person responsible. Sounds like a good fit for Rick. Yep. All right. Um so that would be our last 20 uh
resolution by um by consent and then we will have uh bills and payroll. Um any discussion items? I don't have any. No. No. I think we had or um so that brings us if uh without objection anyone um to
the public portion. Nope. No. So, uh, Venner City Commission welcomes participation of interested organizations and individuals during this workshopregular session as well as special meetings. However, in order for the commission to conduct business of the city on most in
a most productive manner, public comment on specific agenda items, questions, comments during the workshop or at the end of regular meetings or or during special meetings will be limited to three minutes per person per on issues. If you wish to address the commission, please step up to the microphone and
state your name and address for the record. Um, is there anyone in the audience that would like to speak about any uh ordinances or uh agenda items that we've talked about so far in the workshop portion?
You have to step up to the microphone there, sir. Thank you. and give your name and your address for the record, please. Uh, my name is Richard Damonte. My address is 810 North Burley Avenue in Ventner. Thank you. Um, question about ebikes. Is that is that issue put to
bed? Uh, I understand I thought we were able to discuss that at this meeting. Um, my comment is first of all, you can we can we can Okay. Uh, is there currently a speed limit on the boardwalk? And if so, what is that speed
limit? Um, I've asked one of our uh offic Captain CO if you would you mind um stepping in? I believe it's uh 15 miles an hour. I believe it's 15 miles an hour because nothing's posted.
Can't enforce it. Yeah. And we don't have radi to death police car up there with the radar to to get anybody. So logistically, it doesn't make sense to enforce it. So the the concern about the speed is, you know, that that it's a
boardwalk for people to walk on and those uh ebikes and their weight and their potential speed. Not necessarily. We can't we can't we can't really in we can't really um predict what some the speed that most of them will go to is 25
miles an hour. Right. Well, I have a uh an ebike and uh I'm 72 years old and I constantly ride it in first gear and the speed that I'm at is at 11 miles an hour. And I've seen people on 10 speed
bikes, 16 speed bikes, you know, riding a lot faster than I'm riding. And I understand if if there's a speed limit and I'm obeying the speed limit, I don't understand where the speed issue to this comes into effect if
I'm not speeding. Well, I think it's a a constellation of things. I don't think it's the speed alone is the issue. So I I won't speak for for Captain CBO, but the concern that we have with them and that a lot of other communities in the have is not necessarily you as a person
that's not going to break the law, but the weight of the vehicle and the potential speed is something that we can't regulate and we can't really discern between what the class one and the class 2s are when that when they're being um when they're being operated.
So, we can't really pull one. We can't really separate the pedal assist from the non from the throttle. Um, they're both heavy. They both can go a high speed. When we're when we're sharing, it's a shared space with the with with
people that are walking and jogging and riding. Now, to your to your point, we have we've had this year, we have more than any other year, we have um class one officers that are on the boardwalk that will uh that are that are
instructed to enforce not just that, but ebikes um on the boardwalk that we hope will will change that behavior. Okay? You know, because the the and the people that don't people that that speed down there sometimes are using it as a way to commute to and from work. So
they're not thinking about the the the people that are around them. And I agree with you, there are people that go fast, but it's also it's like merging on a highway on that boardwalk. I ride my bike on that. Well, couldn't we implement, you know, when you go down some of these highways, you see a a solar speed limit thing that tells you
what your speed's going. Couldn't you put a couple of those on the boardwalk and, you know, maybe reduce the speed on the boardwalk from 15 miles an hour to 10 miles an hour so you're just cruising instead of, you know, riding fast? It it just doesn't seem fair to me, right,
that you're, you know, you're allowing guys on 10-speed and 16speed bikes to ride and you're not allowing a person on an ebike. And the other thing is the skateboards. The skateboard to me is more dangerous because there's no brakes, there's no steering at all. And
it, you know, what you're saying doesn't doesn't make sense. Well, the motorized skateboards are not allowed. Is that what you're talking about? Well, motorized or non-motorized. There's still, you know, a person doesn't have control of a of a skateboard as a person
with on a bike, right? So, I mean, I'll I'll I'll ask um Captain Ka to comment on that enforcement style, but enforcement is not something that is uh perfect, you know. Um it's, you know, people speed on the ride on the roadways too and get away with it. Um and we're
trying to keep this a shared space and a safe space. So, you know, understood. And I and I appreciate that you that you don't um that you abide by those rules in a way that is uh you know respectful of everybody else because just as much
as you want to utilize that vehicle on the boardwalk people it it shouldn't diminish from people that want to walk on that boardwalk right that are that are unmolested by someone that may potentially be doing 25 miles an hour in a 100 pound bike. Right. Okay. Well,
thank you for your time. Yeah. Thank you. Thank you. Jeremy Casey, 402 North SuffK. Can you guys clarify what you settled on for the new biking hours? So, the only difference between the what's existing?
So, there's no change to what's existing. We're except that we're adding an evening hour. So, for instance, if you wanted to go to a restaurant and utilize the boardwalk at on a conventional bike on the way home
between the hours of uh 5:00 p.m. and 1000 p.m. So, those evening hours for what could be a particular uh like commute back from a restaurant or wherever on the boardwalk. And it's typically used that way as well. And
I've been monitoring it myself just in, you know, this to see what that type of behavior is. And it's not like an early day um where there's hundreds and hundreds of bikes per minute. That's it's two or three bikes at a time. Yeah. No, absolutely agree. I just wanted to make sure we were that was the only thing the addition and not the changing
that the offseason hours as well. Great. There's clarity there that the offseason is is intact. Great job on that. Um the other question I have the bond the general bond what are is that for exactly? Um there's there's a number of bonds. It's for our general it's usually
for Yeah. Okay. L if you want to commissioner Langraph can um can can field that. So the majority of it and there is some some PD stuff for vehicles but I look through the public works looking for vehicles dump trucks with with a plow beach mats. People love
their beach mats. Um trash recycling containers. Uh building improvements to this building as well as other buildings that the city owns. Um storm sewer improvements, curb and and gutter replacements. Uh roadway repairs. Um, library HVAC. That's a big one. $280,000
for new HVAC in the library. So, there's a lot of that. Yeah. All right. Cool. A lot of need improvements. Thank you very much. Um, the only thing I have on that, please don't make any more of the curves with the steps. Ramp them all, please. So, that was the county. Oh, is it really? Do you see the section that the county did from Dorset to Margate?
That's all county. That's all the county did. Thank you. I'll be on that. Suggested to do what we did. If you've seen the five that we've done on Veterary Avenue towards Atlantic City, they know which one you're talking about now. Our engineer is why they were different. Yep. When the county came to us and said, "What's your input?" We said, "Do that." They said, "No, we like
this." Well, no one else does. Yeah. Tripping hazard. It creates issues. Yeah. Creates a huge problem. All right. We have what we call tabletop intersections and that's what we kept there. They forced in those those handicap ramps. What they become is areas for water to sit. Yeah. I It's
terrible. I agree. I'll write the county about it. Thank you very much. Great to count the but just in general that direction that he mentioned from that's part of the uh emergency evacuation route. That's why it's it's under their their purview and ours is not. And then also if you could just remind me all the
bonding is things that are done that can be that are distributed over a long period of time. Yes. So all those are projects that are a long period of time over five to 10 years. So they're large ticket or longer. So large large ticket items. So, if you have another comment, you have to come to the come to the
microphone, state your name and your address for the record. I know it seems awkward, but it's the way we have to do things in municipal government. Uh, my name is Jeff Nelson, and I my address is 5117 Winchester Avenue. Thank you. Down on the on the waterway over here. Okay.
Um, I'm I was uh seeing the uh information that was posted on Facebook relative to the ebike issue. Um, so that's the reason I'm here. Over at our place, we have six bikes and two ebikes.
So when the family all goes out, we go down the boardwalk, we go down and do our thing when they come in from out of town or whatever. But these two ebikes that weigh 60 lbs that go in the back of my car, they can't go. So my wife and I
that ride those, if I ride them here in Fentner with no battery, they don't run. they just pedal. Um, so for me, this thing where not using a throttle or being able to disengage that part of it, it seems as
though we're we're we're losing an opportunity as seniors to be able to use those in a safe way along with the rest of our family instead of having to leave those parked and then come back and come over here. I almost rode it over here today
and parked it, but I didn't do it. pedalling it by hand, right? So, that that was my comment. So, I believe there should be a way that seniors or anybody should be able to use those in a safe way. Um, which is my point. I thank
Thank you for your comments and I I don't I don't disagree that it's an imperfect system or or enforcement. Uh, any other comments about items that we've talked about so far in the workshop? Yes, Chuck Lanceman 5403
Winchester. Thank you. And again with the ebikes, um you mentioned due to the weight of them, what is the issue with the weight when they hit somebody? So that the the the uh the force of them uh versus a
person on a bike. We do have a handful of uh bike accidents every day and or every season on the boardwalk. uh you know as a as a as a person who grew up here from uh literally as a child I I biking on the
boardwalk I think is part of our culture. I think it's something that we should always have but um but the ebikes are still catching up in their in the in terms of what they how they're how they're classified and how they're um and how they're managed. And right now
um in my opinion as commissioner of public safety and with the with the support of the the police department adding u motorized vehicles that can are it's difficult to discern whether they are the the the size and the weight from
any from the two types that are done. Um, and then adding the weight and then adding the speed to a condition where there are hundreds of people and other bicyclists at the same time. Those two things don't don't aren't conducive to a safe atmosphere on the boardwalk or the
Ocean City boardwalk or other local boardwalks. And like like in in uh in Asbury Park, they are not allowed. So, we're not alone in this. We don't we just don't want to be on the cutting edge of allowing them until there's more um that there's more policy. Now, I know
they're making them smaller and smaller. What if there was a particular weight of the bike, and I know being on the boardwalk, you know, some of these bikes that the people ride have the big tires and big bikes that are probably just as heavy,
if not heavier, heavily geared as well. I mean, what a part of what we struggle with, if I could step in, is is the state hasn't categorized these things yet. So, they don't know how to treat them. We're not going to step in and let and start doing that until the state makes their decision. To me, if they're riding on the street the way they're
going at 35 miles an hour, these kids aren't wearing helmets. They should be like the old mopeds. They should be lic. You have to be 16 years old to drive one. You have to wear a helmet, follow all the rules of the road. They don't. They blow right through the traffic signals. They treat them like a bicycle, which we're still supposed to follow
traffic. You know what I found interesting tonight that I wasn't aware of that there is a speed limit on the boardwalk. Yeah. And I, as you mentioned, you've been here your whole life. I've been coming to Ventner my whole life as well. And I've never seen
a speed limit sign or even knew of a speed limit sign. And to the gentleman that spoke originally, maybe if there were some some uh speed limit signs, people would be more knowledgeable to go slower because I know I have the ebike
and I go, you know, first gear going 10, 11 miles per hour. I'm just cruising. I have medical issues. So, I have a hard time pedaling all the time. So, it's convenient for me to have the bike. And plus, when I went to buy it, they didn't warn me that you're not allowed to ride
them, right? So, now I have a $2,000 bike that I can't use, right? Is my issue. But, I think posting the speed limit would probably help control some of these accidents. We're going to have to update them anyway. I've been coming here for 50 years and never once saw a speed limit sign or knew about a speed
limit sign. I I think I could just attribute that to sort of a common sense thing that you know that the we don't have that anymore. People didn't Yeah. Grant exactly the problem. So like so you know I think there's an old rule that you know um you know the 8020 rule
you know 20% of the people are making 80% of the problems and so this kind of falls into that I think and the the the idea of putting a speed limit up um was never really contemplated I don't think in those times because you had people with you know baskets and big radios
blasting music on them from you know and families you know but now the the technology has as as not the the the the legislation hasn't caught up with the technology and we're we're we're make we're we're we're pumping the brakes to make sure that we do it correctly and safely. I I think you you also have to
keep in mind that it's worth saying that there's a bike lane um one block away if you do really need to get to someplace and prefer not to use your car. I am a big proponent of bike lanes and and alternative uses of transportation. I think we're a small enough 1.7 mile long
community that bikes should be used more as much as possible. So you said just to recap, so you're saying the state hasn't accepted the ebikes. So all townships are falling under that rule. No, there all the townships have
their own have their own take on it, but there's no insurance. Uh there's no there's no plans for insurance. There's or they've been kicked back and forth in different ways. Um, I don't know that there's the last time we this issue came up with the ebikes, our solicitor briefed us on some of the challenges of
writing an ordinance that allows them because they're not categorized. They're hard to categorize. They're not on they're not covered under insurance. They're they're powered vehicles. So, there's a lot of pitfalls that if we were to start doing this, um, I'm supportive of allowing them on there. I haven't gotten that to a point where
it's safe enough for everybody. Um, I have an ebike. I don't use it on the boardwalk. I use it on in the bike lanes. Um, and it's heavy. Damn thing's got to be 100 pounds. Um, and it'll do 30 miles an hour. I haven't gotten it up that fast. It'll do 30 miles an hour.
Um, but thanks to your PBA, that's what that was my That's right. I bought it from the our police benevolent association at one of their fundraisers. Um, it's great bike, but you know, it's not made to to be on the boardwalk. It's a heavy vehicle. Um, I do support the
ability to be able to get them there at some point, especially for folks that need it. Um, we talked about doing something where you would identify the bike as with an ADA sticker on it or something like that, but we're not there yet. We have to other other entities above us have to make some rules as to
how these things are categorized. Then we can step that down. Signage up on the boardwalk we can certainly change to put speed limits on there. Uh, we're going to have to update it for the times anyway. So, we can we can certainly do that. put up to speed. I recall years ago having 15 mph signs remember um
small ones remember they used to have the quarter and half mile signs they were with them used to there were signs on the rail that said that might be helpful just for safety for everybody because even when you're walking I don't want to put the digital ones up I don't want to put the digital ones up because that's challenge someone's going to see that and say hey I'm going to get that
thing to go up to 25 and that's you know but it might slow down people just on regular bikes if they're aware of a speed limit because like I said I've never known that there static sign would be the way to go at least try that. So, I don't think we're we're at a at a point where we can move forward with any
ebikes there yet, but we're we're talking about it. And more and more counties are finding ways like Delaware, I think, has a lot has a lot of trails, very progressive in bikes, and they have a they they allow ebikes on certain trails as well. So, we're looking at all the things that are out there and and my
way of thinking, you find the best fi let, you know, fi find the how the process has taken place and find the best thinking and incorporate it. I appreciate your time tonight. Thanks for coming out. If if I may, Lance, I think your description of of your own bike, ebike, kind of points to what the
problem is that it's essentially a small motorcycle. Yeah. Um and you know, back in the day it was mopeds and the the bottom line is is the boardwalk is designed primarily as a pedestrian pathway. It's like a sidewalk. It's not
a roadway and no motor vehicles are permitted other than for maintenance purposes and emergency personnel. So you can't ride an ebike on a sidewalk either. So that that's where you know the state has not made a distinction that classifies those types of bikes as
anything other than a motor vehicle. Right. I would just put before we ask before we bring you up I would just say that I would also put in your ear that as we replaced the boardwalk in the previous years you've had um you had arrows uh go that showed that told
people what direction to to walk and ride their bike on and and a lot of people don't really follow the walk or ride on the right rule and it used to have a double yellow line down it in some places and the boardwalk runners had their logos in the right directions
the BR fake bike run lane. Yep. And um I think that would be uh I think even strategically at our largest access points like the library, tennis courts, and entrance and exits, arrows that just show the direction that you should be riding on would be helpful because you add that factor that people are not
following the directions. They're walking into oncoming traffic with and not and talking to someone or, you know, or uh that adds to the factor. Now you're going to add a heavy fastmoving vehicle. So, um, but anyway, you want to
Yeah, Jeremy Casey again, uh, just for clarification sake, the state h the state has made legislation on ebikes. Class one and two are considered bicycles through the state. Class 3 are not. They're motorized vehicles. So, all that is laid out in state legislation. I understand with you, agree with you, the insurance has been figured out, but all
those excuses are factually incorrect and that has been settled through state legislation. I guess what I was saying was that each individual municipality has not really adopted that. And I believe last time I checked, Ocean City does still allow ebikes on their boardwalk. So they still are continuing last time I checked. Again, that that
may have changed from the last time, but they are still doing it. Okay. All right. Thank you. That changed since last year that when Nicole gave us the update on the on the states, so we we'll look at it. Big sign that said no ebikes. Yeah. Or bike. Yeah. I'm backing it. They labd it.
That's what it was. They tabled it. They tabled the legislation. But anyway, one quick comment on the speed. If you sorry your name and address Richard Damonte A10 North Berley Avenue vendor if you do post uh speed limit I suggest you post it at 10 m an hour because people are
going to go 15 miles an hour. It's just like on the street here it's 25 miles an hour and people are going 35 miles an hour. 10 miles an hour is plenty as a cruising you know type of thing. And uh I I would like to see that as opposed to
15 miles an hour. Again thanks for your time. Yeah thank you. Thanks. So Nicole texted me that she's muted again, but she will look at this issue again. Okay. Thank you. And for for the audience, Nicole is the city attorney. Okay. Thank
you. Anyone else in the chambers before we go to the Zoom platform for comments on workshop items? I have one question. Um we had an ordinance for introduction actually was public hearing adoption for
um hours of construction. Yeah, that's all all of those ordinances uh the publication date for the legal ad was missed. So they've all needed to be tabled tonight. They'll be on for Okay, Lisa is going to readvertise them and have them on for July 10th. Great. Thank
you. Okay. All right. Any other comments from uh from the from the from the Zoom platform on topics in the workshop so far? And Jim, if you could unmute Nicole and keep her unmuted, please. He He did,
Tom. I'm back on. Thank you. Is anybody on Zoom who wishes to comment on any of the items that have been spoken so far, please make yourself known in Zoom by raising your hand or in the chat feature and I will unmute. I will ask you to unmute.
No seeing none. Anyone else in the chambers? No. Thank you. Okay, moving on then. Um I uh kind of have a motion to close the workshop portion of the meeting. So moved. Second. Have a roll call, please.
Commissioner Langra. Yes. Commissioner Bento. Yes. Mayor Creel. Yes. Uh we have no approval of minutes. Uh ordinance introduction as described. Pardon me for one second. Let me just make sure I get this right.
No, I got notes on mine. Hang on one sec. Here we go. So, uh, ordinance introduction for 2025-017 amending chapter 75 code of city vendor entitled bicycles, roller skates, and
skateboards as described in the workshop meeting as well. I'll make a motion to introduce ordinance 2025-017. Second. A roll call. Cindy. Commissioner Langra. Yes. Commissioner Mento. Yes. Mayor Kel. Yes. an uh motion to
introduce ordinance 2025-018 which pertains to outdoor dining and premises expansion permits as described. Make a motion to introduce ordinance 2025-018. Second. Roll call. Lisa Cindy. Commissioner Lang. Yes. Commissioner
Mento. Yes. Mayor Creable. Yes. Sorry about that. It's okay. And those will both be on for public hearing and adoption July 10th. Right. Okay. So um uh items number 20, ordinance 2025-010
and uh ordinance 2025 are these are both um re uh being replaced by the previous um that is uh item number 21 number 20 21 22 and 23. There's no um no need for any um motion
on any of those ordinances. they will uh be tabled. Um so moving on to um ordinance to item 24 public hearing. is uh um also being tabled uh 2025-014
um and 2025-015 and 2025-016 which takes us through to item uh 29 that uh I'm sorry that those are um all being tabled due to legal advertising u
um that needs to be um that needs to be done. The uh that brings us to item 30 which is resolutions for uh consent. That is uh resolutions 2025-191 through 2025-216
as described in the workshop meeting. May I have a motion to adopt those resolutions by second. Roll call. Cindy. Commissioner Langra. Yes. Commissioner Mento. Yes. Mayor Creable. Yes. Thank you.
Uh, we have approvals of bills and payroll. Cindy, would you Yes. read those, please. The amount for the bills is 1,870,656.94. And payroll from May 11th to May 25th is $644,728.87. And from May 25th to June 7th is
$720,356.56. Thank you. I have a motion to approve bills and payroll, please. I'll make that motion. Second. Payroll. Cindy, please. Commissioner Angra, yes. Commissioner Mento, yes. Mayor Kbo, yes. Can I just add one comment at this
point? Yes. Well, actually two comments. I suggested to Amy to bump up the contribution to the dep the lifeguard pension fund by six cents. That would have gotten us to your double zeros, but Oh, she wanted to be here when that happened. So,
so we didn't do that. But we uh we also I have a joke between myself, our CFO, trying to get to a one time in in nine years I like to try and get just to have zero cents on the end of a bill. Yeah. Accounting nightmare. And then I I also
wanted to just report publicly that we conducted a bond sale uh earlier this week for uh both uh general uh improvements and uh water and sewer utility improvements. Uh do you have something that you want to do on that or
should I go ahead and I was going I was going to mention we had the bond sale and the winning bid was at 3.35% interest. Those bonds were rated double A. Our rating was affirmed um at doublea.
Um I wanted to talk a little bit about that rating. Is now the appropriate time? Uh yeah, next up is Yeah, next up is commissioner reports. Just Okay. A little closer to the So um and and uh we were rated by S&P and Tom and Amy and our auditor was heavily
involved in this and um you really go through a grueling process from the rating agencies. They they pretty much look at everything up and down and every which way. Um the rating reflected the opinion their opinion that Bentner
City's general creditworthiness and market risk profile um they consider low. Um so the risk is low. The rating reflects the city's beachfront location south of Atlantic City and along the New Jersey coast, which has resulted in a robust
tax base growth and demand for the city's housing. The city's credit strengths are its stable financial performance and reserve management with a proven track record of sustaining reserves above 20% of revenues, which is
integral to the rating given its coastal location and flood risks. So that's very important because that's something that is usually questioned every budget season that we're not using enough and um pretty much S&P has said we're doing
the right thing. Um that we have a banked levy capacity which affords the city's revenue to be able to raise revenue if needed. It also reflects um the city's residential economy rooted in tourism, leisure, and hospitality as a
small seaside community within Atlantic County that has seen accelerating growth for more than 5 years. They view the city's controlled management conditions as similar to peers in the state with operations and planning aided by a
number of formalized financial policies and practices including a five-year budget forecast and surplus projection, a statute required six-year capital plan with supplemental long-term debt service projections, and comprehensive cyber
risk mitigation practices. S&P thinks longerterm planning practices will aid the city in moderating its debt profile and annual costs while planning at the same time for future capital needs. They also indicated consistent positive
financial performance spurred by conservative budgeting and revenue growth from a stable tax rate due to increasing economic growth leading to improved reserves. They incorporated into their rating
um the physical risks that they view as being above those of peers given Betner City's exposure to the Atlantic County co or Atlantic Ocean coastline. Climate resilience efforts to ensure property values are protected from long-term sea level rise and severe weather events are
well embedded in the city's long-term planning. as well. Management continues to form helpful partnerships for beach replenishment, shoreline stabilization, bulkhead replacement and enhancement. Specifically, given its coastal
location, Bentner city has undertaken various efforts to protect its tax base from significant weather events and flooding. It is leading a regional master plan project covering communities in Atlantic County to implement a
unified approach to resiliency as well as future land use options. Furthermore, in conjunction with state and federal funding, Vetner city replaced pump stations to alleviate flooding, increase the minimum bulkhead height, and mandated additional elevation for home
renovation and construction. S&P believes the city's approach to ensuring its tax base and infrastructure is protected against environmental risks provides additional stabilization for the con the economy. They view social and governance risks as in line with
their view of the sector standard. Um, so this is a third-party um agency that this is what they do all over nationwide. This isn't us tooting
our own horn. This is somebody who looks uh thoroughly seriously easy to get downgrades, hard to get upgrades. And um they've kept us at AA, which is a pretty damn good rating for this city. Yeah, I
I think it really is a blueprint for how local government along the Atlantic coast should operate and you guys deserve the credit for what you've done over the last multiple years in creating uh that plan. The the coast the
resiliency projects, all the storm water management, all that all goes into how you're rated as far as a risk. And then again, you stressed the the maintenance of a adequate reserve fund. Uh all of those things are what we should all be
striving to do in this business. So my hats off to the three of you for what you've done here. And why And why is this important? Because when you go out and borrow money, the better your rating, um the lower lower the interest rate most likely. That's how it's supposed to
work. Yeah. So um because you're not as risky. Or if you're risky, then it's gonna it's going to cost you more to borrow money. Great. No, I I I would just pull off of that. the the above 20% reserves is
something that is brought up constantly because, you know, nobody likes um to to pay to pay more taxes than they than they, you know, but but this is a way to keep the financial house in order and do all of those things that it's really that's really the overlying umbrella
here, right? lower lowering the rate to build more infrastructure so that Lance's departments can add to the to the to the resiliency of the city and yeah and th those things come with heavy price tags but being and also reading
directly is is interesting because we you know I think the three of us um um live that the conservative act aspect we don't we we look at the numbers we don't suggest things that are frivolous we we make sure that our bids are are in line
or we drop back and punt some. We're not making one year look good, right? Just to look good. That's a really important thing, too. Over the years, you've seen that reserve dip down during um during election years. Let's just say it. And no, that that's not something that we that we think is um sustainable. We use
what's appropriate. I'm talking to Mike. We use what's appropriate. I mean, that's that's what at our the recommendations from our staff, from our auditor, you know, those are the things that we follow. They're the experts in that. Maria is as well, which helps a lot. Um, you know, that's that's stuff that I had to learn coming into this
seat and it it helps taking, you know, you take advice from smart people. Leon Castello does this for a lot of municipalities. He's been doing it for more than 40 years. That's a guy I'm going to listen to. Yeah. You know, that that knows and puts us in this position that we're double A rated and the bond
sold there. There was 68 bids. So, there's a lot of people looking to to buy our our bond. So, that's a good thing. Um, so it's competitive. It's not one person saying, "I'm going to give them this and they're going to take it." There's five to six people bidding on those and and I was looking at the the one at the bottom. I'm like, "Wow, they
offered more money, but the rate was Yeah. higher. So, we would have been pretty interesting spread." Yeah, it it was pretty interesting. That was It was good. I Good job by by staff and and you as well, Marie, and taking the advice of of our our auditor. Yeah. Leon doesn't mince words. He know he he'll tell you
exactly what successful and Tom, you know, they the uh the the notion that these are the um these are these are these are make good choices and that that's really what they are. It's making good choices for long term. Eye had a lot of homework to do on this.
So, they really deserve for credit. I mean, they they'll give you pages and pages of questions and yeah, you're you know, and some things you got to dig through to get the answers, you know, not all it's not everything that's just today. You're you're looking historically. you're looking into the future all the improvements we're pro
you probably had to talk to uh code and building and get some information from them what we've been doing so um they did a lot of work on this and those are behind the our financial advisors and Leon yeah I think when you're when you look at the things that happen in the city these are be behind the scenes um
uh work product that really makes the difference in a lot of ways you you know I was your administrator for a while you guys are not short-term thinkers you're long-term thinkers you're looking at the stability of the city over the long term term you're and and that's what the spun balance and and how much of it you use,
right? Takes into consideration long term, right? Yeah. No, it's all it's it's it's in a good and our our rating has has improved over the time that we've been in place for those reasons. I'd like to I'd like to I think that we're on the right track.
Thank you. Any other commission reports? Yep. I got a few things. Um, first I got to attend the award ceremony today for the eighth grade um uh class. Smart kids in these classes. I mean just just um you know and it's spread around through everybody. It was one kid got a lot.
Yeah. Sebastian um Brave or Bravo something like that. Kid was up there multiple times getting different awards and stuff. So it was nice. But I I came up with an idea something and I talked to the superintendent about Carmela about us doing something. I shot you guys an email today about it. um that we
would be able to create a veterary commissioners award that each year so we can do it for next year and we would put our money in. I'm throwing your guys I'm going dipping into your wallets not taxpayers wallets. So um just something to give to to recognize some citizenship
um civic work that they do volunteerism stuff like that. So um it was good. It was really really nice time to to be there. I couldn't stay for the whole thing. Their lunch hour is only an hour and there's there's a lot of awards they give out. It's like, yeah, I got to in an hour I got to see about twothirds of what they were doing. Um, just some
updates on some projects. Um, Rick gave me some things and Ernie gave me some things to to just update the folks about. So, we've we've installed all 24 beach mats so far this year. Uh, we have four more ordered and we we will put those in as they as they come in. U, we're not going to go with the tan color
that look just like the sand because people would trip over them more than they trip over the blue ones. Um, yeah, I don't know. That was that was a funny email that that Maria sent out. I'm like, "Yeah, we're not doing the tan ones." Except picture. Yeah. Um Newport Avenue handicap ramp's going to be
rebuilt. Uh that's been closed for a little while. The sand building up there is is starting to rot the infrastructure there. So, we're going to we've got a contractor to come out and do that. Um the stage is pretty much done. We did a punch list, came out fantastic. Uh there's a couple little things. Public
works today and last couple days were putting sand around the bottom so it's it's all level there. Um, first folks that got to use it was the PBA for the eighth grade uh barbecue. Um, it was it was nice. They were right there for it. Um, most of the kids were down at the
beach when I got there, but they just kept coming back for more food. So, it was nice. It was a good staging point. It's nice little backdrop. Um, tennis pickle ball courts take. We got some construction going on as I talked about briefly. Um, just to do some repairs. They were closed last couple days and
tomorrow morning um they'll be closed again till 11:00 a.m. Um just to fix up some of those cracks so we can use them through the rest of the season. Um if you've seen the new banner prototype that we have those banners we put around city hall. If you look at the corner of Cambridge here, we've got a new set. We
don't have those metal poles anymore. Rick and the guys came up with with some planters and the poles are in those planters and it holds them just as secure as the other ones and it looks a lot nicer. So Tom Tom and I had a little pet peeve with those metal poles sticking out and the ground. Yeah, it's
they look a lot better. So they're going to order more and build more of those. Four more sets. Um cleaned up the fishing pier, did some power washing out there for the season. The library, men's rooms, uh new urinals and and toilets were replaced. U both men's and ladies rooms were repainted. Um constructed and
installed city hall mini library at Cambridge Avenue. That's the post you'll see just next to the the um BF the um Memorial Day monument that's right there. You'll see that going in. Um all the boardwalk showers are in. We had a leak on one of them. We had to go out and replace repair that. Thanks for
taking care of that, Ernie. Appreciate it. Um beach crossovers are in the process of being tuned up. That's an ongoing process because weeds grow and dune grass grows. looking at the sewer and water department. Um we had a
significant sewer issue on Calvert two two Friday nights ago. I think it was Eron Calvert and Derby uh right outside the Sunset Harbor condos. Um it was an all night project and if you remember that Friday night, it was not a nice Friday night. It was the storms rolled
through. So three Ernie was out there with um Adam and Jamie. They were out there all night till 5:00 a.m. with our con the subcontract we brought in. They got it fixed. Um the homeowners at uh Sunset Harbor were very appreciative.
They were kept informed all night long by Ernie what was going on. Um so thank please thank Adam and Jamie for being out there. That was a lot of work and yourself. I know I tried to text Ernie tomorrow. I'm like he's not paying attention to me at 10 a.m. He's sleeping. Which was good. Which was
good. um storm water, the improvements at Venter Gardens Plaza are starting to show um uh that they're working. I know I spoke about that at our last meeting, but we've had a couple recent heavy rainfalls, and it's already visible that those improvements are working. We still need to do some improvements to the
pumps there. Uh pump number two needs to be pulled and rebuilt, and the pump number one is having given us some issues, so we're we're going to have to deal with that as well. Drinking water is no issues. Uh groundwater levels are back to normal after the the drought we've been experiencing. Um, so we're in
good shape with water. Um, upcoming street work. Um, installed new hydrants to replace some of the old ones, uh, fire hydrants. That is, um, lead projects, lead service line replacement. We're on bi-weekly meetings with all the parties. We're working through that. We
hope to have phase one of that start in the Heights, I think sometime next year. Um, that's going to be that's a big project that that total projects at 65 million that we're talking about. So the first phase of that will be 10 million which 5 million of that will be
forgivable loan from the D. So we're hoping to get most of that forgiven back to us. So you said bi-weekly meetings on that. Yeah. Yikes. Yeah. It's a lot a lot. It's a lot. Um so but that's helping us. We actually got consultants that are being paid for by the grants to
help us move this through because we're one of the leading municipalities in that. were the first ones that applied for the money. Um because I was in a meeting with with the agency, the D that is forcing this on us. Just to reiterate, our lead, there's very little
lead in our in our water system. The threshold for for lead issues in your water is 15 parts per billion. We're less than two, like one to 1.2. And they're making us do all this work. It It seems ridiculous to me, but I get it. There's there's a little taint of lead
in there. You want to get it out. You want to get all of it out. But this project is is extensive. We have to replace and it's not our mains. The mains are fine. It's the lines that go into the homes. They're galvanized. Some of them have a lead corporation where it connects to the home. And we have to go
right to the first valve in folks home. So that's the requirement. So going right through their front yards to their home. Um that's going to be a major project moving forward. So yeah, we did our annual maintenance on Lily Park. um pulled the ski beach uh sanitary sewer
pump pump station there and rebuilt that and that's back working. Um one of them is back working. So that was a lot. So thanks for the reports, Ernie and Rick. Yeah, Lance, there's one more to add. I don't know whether you saw the email yet or not. I think it just came this
afternoon uh from I think it was from the I bank that we're now authorized to go out to bid for the water tower project. Okay, good. Yep. Ernie's happy. Sorry. Which project? Water tower. Oh, water tower in the Heights. Um, I did send over, did I send
you that picture of what I thought about putting on the side of it instead of just painting it all one color? Um, town up on LBI has waves that they put around the bottom of it, not on the top so it's not going to hit the sun and make it too warm. Yeah. So, we'll look at it. No, it would
it would be down the bottom. It wouldn't be where the water's Done. We'll think about it. And we got to come up with a lo slogan to put on there or something. We put Tom's face on there. But thanks. Well, that's good news. Hashtags don't work anymore.
That hashtags are still 1990. Sorry. It's the at right. It's the I was told that at a seminar. That's all. Oh, but what do we say all the time? We say hashtag only inventor. only inventor. Um, Commissioner uh Mento, you have some
things about uh to discuss on special events. Holy Inventor. Yeah, the city has some upcoming events, but before I tell you those, just remind everybody the farmers market is tomorrow. I think it's the third week, and that's run by an amazing group of committee people.
Um, June 25th is our first concert at Ski Beach. Um June 28th is our first concert at Newport in the library. Um and it's also the ribbon cutting for the new band stage. I'm going to miss that. No, it's our anniversary. I'll be in Key
West. Maybe you can virtually. Yeah, that's going to be my list. June 28th going to make it to year 16 of my marriage. June 28th and 29th is the citywide yard sale. June 30th is first
Monday movie night at Ski Beach. That's done with the school. And July 3rd is the big Independence Day celebration at Newport Beach 5:00 p.m. So it's a little earlier. Live music vendors. Um there'll be the annual Ventner Mile Run and fireworks.
That's it. Yeah. Good. Great. Excellent. Great. I I don't have too much else to add other than that the recck department we're looking to have uh still have uh opportunities to participate in the sports camps and the soccer camp. Go to rec ventner.rectesk.com to sign up for anything. There's always
um always great things happening there. I'm sure um the summer's going to get kicked off in a big way as we get through this sort of in between time when it's nice out but the schools aren't quite out yet. So um some better weather and some better weather on a weekend. I mean, today and yesterday were fantastic. Yeah. Yeah. Rain again
on the weekend. Unofficial results, though. The restaurants are busy, it seems like. Yeah. Yeah, they are. Um, next uh um we have uh public comment if there's no other reports from commissioners. No, no other reports. Um
so, at this point, uh Vener City Commission welcomes participation in any comment about anything Ventner related. Um, if you want to come up to the uh mic, give your name and address
for the record. Seeing my Diane Burkebeck, 3 North Cambridge Avenue. Bender. Um, you want to pass these out for everybody? Thank you. How are you Diane? Good to see you.
Good. Thank you, sir. All right. I'm here as a representative from the Vetner Green team and as you know and have talked about a lot of the grants that we got. uh stems from a lot of the actions that our group
coordinated with everybody involved in the city uh helps to get some money back for our projects. Uh what I'd like to raise awareness today and start um a thought
process and a discussion about uh banning the backpack gas powered blowers. And those are the specific blowers, not the electric ones, not the battery ones,
but the big uh backpack ones. Um, yeah, there are gas. Um, it's a noise issue. It's a quality of life issue. Everybody's got gardeners. It would be wonderful if they could all
come on the same day in the same block and get it all done, but that doesn't happen. Um, we have these going on all day long. Um it is definitely a big pollution issue as far as uh the emissions that come out. First of all,
the noise issue is their sound is uh 80 to 90 dB and that's louder than the ordinance for noise in the city which um
is I think 60. the electric uh blowers and the lawnmowers are operate at about 60 50 to 60 dB. Um so the noise that they emit uh is heard over a long area
of of real estate. It goes through walls, it goes through windows and it is a disturbance. uh especially if you have people that are noise sensitive uh baby sleeping um and you know they start early in the
morning pe people have different hours of sleep uh the pollution is a huge problem the gas powered uh blowers emit large amounts of pollution that doesn't dissipate it doesn't disappear because
you can't see it doesn't mean it goes away Um they blow up particles in on the ground. People with asthma, breathing issues, um health sensitive
uh people are affected. And when the when they turn them off and put them back in their truck, they still have the pollutants in the air that people walking, running, walking their babies, uh, dog walkers, sitting outside, eating
at the outdoor restaurants, those people are still inhaling those pollutants that are staying there in in the environment. Um there is an ordinance in uh being worked on in the state of New Jersey to ban
these. Uh but I think the uh the date that they're talking about is uh 27 or 28 to totally ban the um these particular leaf blowers. uh what we as a
green team would like to try have us do and you know presenting to you uh is begin talking about a ban for them. But in order to do that uh we feel that it's important to educate people to the uh
derogatory effects of these this equipment. Um, and I have been seeing public works uh our public works people and they do not use the back pipe blowers which is one of the first things to do is you know
have our own people not use them. It um their their blowers are the battery packs. Um we have a list of um companies that will help to offset the
price purchase back the backpack ones and replace them with long-term um blowers that the battery lasts a good 7 to eight hours. Um the company that I did read about will
buy them back and offset the price of purchasing new ones. um in educating our law lawn care uh businesses to the hearing uh problems for their employees and the
pollutions for their employees. Um also educating homeowners to say, "Hey, listen, don't use that. My windows are open. I have kids here. Don't, you know, don't use that in my yard." Um and that could encourage the businesses to
replace with alternative equipment. Um the there are about 10 to 15 communities in the states as as of now that have or are implementing ordinances
to ban these blowers from their communities. and I can provide um some copies of the ordinances uh if we or if we eventually get to that point. Um, and
there are a couple organizations, the uh, Quiet Clean Alliance and the American Green Zone that will support with information and education to, you know, help us again educate
people and also if we do draft that ordinance, it's worth 25 points for sustainable Jersey and we are very close to um moving up in our our rating. Um
and again that helps provide the opportunity to apply for more grants. So um I don't know if we have a list of lawn care businesses that operate in the city. Probably not. Probably not. Okay.
I don't know that they need to be licensed. I would doubt. Yeah. We if they're if they reside in the city, we haven't we know that the that what what type of business they are, but probably not all the ones that operate. Okay. So, or if they operate the business here, like a few. Yeah. We could get the word
out. Y and and that would be the first step and and to draft an ordinance. It would, you know, realistically be something that would begin in the future, maybe next hopefully what would be ideal would be
next summer. Um but it does take time to educate people and especially give them time to replace that equipment. Um but letting them know that now um as equipment goes bad you make a better
choice in replacing something you need right now or at the end of the season. So did you say there's other uh municipalities that are that have Yes. use these? So you can furnish us with that. I can do I can get that. There's
also a um a Zoom I I have like six of them that I have marked on the calendar within the next week. Um Atlantic cities on it as well and they do have the um municipalities that are that have
ordinances and they're going to speak at at that Zoom. I can uh email you the information on it. Um, I have to admit for someone that works from home from time to time, I have earplugs if it's a long day that um we have a house in between us that I
think is a prime offender that um that uses them all day long and um so I'm sensitive to this. It's something I'd like to learn more about and I'd support um especially on the noise level from a work from home stand. One heads
up on your flyer. If we're going to use these on the back page, you have GBLS instead of GLBs. Sorry. Okay. If you're if we're going to use this for education, we should just make sure that Okay. Um, Public Works has some electric ones. I They either battery pack or
they're smaller ones. They don't have the big battery. We don't have the carry on. They were the hand ones. I think they're gas, but but the gas ones that are as they go bad, we can replace them with I have a battery one. It works great. Yeah. Yeah. But the um small battery even the gas the small gas ones
emit a different level of pollutants and the noise level is not the same. Right. It's lower. Yeah. And if you're going to if you're going to go banan gas ones, I would think you'd ban them all and go push them into the battery power. Well, it's tough to
ban the little gas this and then you have a gas lawn mower. Well, is not as loud as the gas as the blowers. Sounds like we're, you know, we're we're supportive. So, I like I'd like to see it get to the next
step personally. Okay. Great. Commissioners, if you if you don't mind, um, if you want to forward that to me or Tom can get me that information, I can start to draft up an ordinance and we can make it effective in the future. Um, for sure.
So, that there is a period of education um, for the individuals that it would impact. Right. Yep. Okay. All right. Any you want. Thank you. Thank you. Thanks, Diane. Jim, would you
mute Nicole again, please? Mute. Thanks, Tom. Thanks, Tom. Sorry, I can't do that. Any anyone else for public comment in the um
chambers or in the Zoom platform uh about any topic at all regarding Ventner? Anybody on Zoom wish to speak on any topic, please make yourself known in Zoom by raising your hand or in the chat feature and you will be recognized.
No. No hearing. None. A motion to close public comment, please. So moved. Second. I have a roll call. Cindy. Commissioner Langrath. Yes. Commissioner Mento. Yes. Mayor Kel. Yes. We have no executive session this evening. Correct. That's correct. All right. May I have a
motion to adjurnn? So moved. Second. May roll call. Cindy. Commissioner Langrath. Yes. Commissioner Rento. Yes. Mayor Creable. Yes. Meeting adjourned.