Ocean City Council To Consider $18.4 Million In Spending On City Improvements Thursday Night

OCEAN CITY, NJ — Two weeks after approving the $76.8 million budget, Ocean City Council will consider a proposed spending ordinance Thursday night. Council will consider a proposed ordinance on introduction to set aside $18,466,000 and borrow $17,542,700 in bonds or notes for various improvement projects throughout Ocean City. Council meets at City Hall on Thursday night, May 11, 7 p.m.

Proposed spending associated with this ordinance includes:

• Construction and reconstruction of various streets, alleys and drainage systems ($9,700,000 authorized; $9,215,000 in bonds or notes);
• Beachfront improvements including, but not limited to, dune maintenance and ADA access improvements ($110,000; $104,500);
• Lagoon and Back Bay Dredging Program including, but not limited to, permitting, engineering and dredging, and the preparation and emptying of one or more disposal sites ($6,500,000; $6,175,000);
• Construction, rehabilitation and repair of public buildings including, but not limited to, the City Hall Stabilization Project and LED lighting upgrades ($225,000; $213,750);
• Acquisition of vehicles including, but not limited to, a 100-foot ladder truck for the fire department, two transit vans, two passenger vehicles and rehab and uplifts to military storm trucks ($1,326,000; $1,259,700);
• Acquisition of communications equipment including, but not limited to, radio upgrades for the fire department and general communications/IT equipment citywide ($330,000; $313,500); and
• Various repairs to parking and transportation including, but not limited to, parking lot improvements at the Transportation Center and the Tennessee Avenue boat ramps ($275,000; $261,250).

City Council approved the $76,884,368.93 budget that included a 2.85 percent tax rate increase on April 27. A major reason for the tax increase was to allow the city to move forward on much needed improvements throughout the island that have been long ignored.

There will also be a public hearing and final vote on a proposed ordinance asking council to allow the city to express interest in a currently unimproved strip of land on Westminster Lane.

The city owns the land, but Jane Anderman proposes buying the land for $24,035, build a sidewalk for pedestrian use on the adjacent right of way owned by the city, and donate the sidewalk to the city for no cost. She would take on the cost of the construction. The land is worth $25,300.

When the proposed ordinance was approved on introduction two weeks ago, City Solicitor Dorothy McCrosson said she believed a new home may be built on the land, but that it wouldn’t drastically change the makeup of the neighborhood.

There are 15 items on the consent agenda, including various bulkhead improvements, mechanical and plumbing improvements at various city buildings, among others.

To view the full agenda, visit ocnj.us.

Patch file photo