December 30, 2010
MAYOR’S MESSAGE:
As each New Year approaches, many of us take the time to reflect on the previous twelve months and examine the changes that have occurred in our lives. Here in Sea Isle City, we can look back at 2010 with great pride, knowing that our resort has undergone many improvements that have enhanced our island’s appearance and strengthened our community’s infrastructure. And, we still have projects in the works that will make life here even better! By the time the summer of 2011 is in full swing, we will have a new band shell at Excursion Park, an inviting new beach pavilion at JFK Boulevard, a modernized seating area on our Promenade, a new municipal boat ramp and other worthwhile improvements that will further enhance our town and attract new visitors -- so be sure to watch us grow!
As we all continue to “dig out” from this week’s nor’easter snow storm, I would like to thank Sea Isle City’s Department of Public Works and our Police Department’s Office of Emergency Management for their efforts. As the storm approached, our OEM effectively informed property owners with E-alerts and telephone calls, and they also spread the word when our region’s state of emergency was lifted (FYI: If you have not yet done so, you can sign-up for similar alerts on our City’s website). Additionally, the DPW has been busy all week clearing our roadways, intersections and fire hydrants as quickly as possible – which was quite a large task, thanks to the nearly 20-inches of snow we received (not to mention the strong winds and resulting snow drifts).
During this season of peace and love, I would also like to thank all of our residents and visitors for their input and suggestions throughout the past year. Working as a team, I know we can reach all of our goals and continue to flourish as a thriving resort community. I am very excited about Sea Isle City’s future and I look forward to sharing it with each of you!
May you and your loved ones enjoy a healthy and prosperous 2011! Happy New Year!
CITY COUNCIL MESSAGE:
2010 has been a very productive year here in Sea Isle City, and we will continue with that level of productivity in 2011. We have many exciting projects in the works for the upcoming year that will further improve the town we love and continue to make Sea Isle City “the place to be.”
During our last council meeting, we introduced a funding ordinance, which is described below under “Project Updates.” Please take time to review these projects. If you have any thoughts or comments, feel free to email us (our City website has our contact info) or attend our next Council meeting on January 11, 2011, when we will be hearing citizen comments on the funding ordinances. Also, on January 11, the Mayor will render his “State of the City” address and present a budget to City Council for fiscal year 2011. Additionally, Council will hold two budget workshops, January 13-14, 10:00 a.m., in Council chambers. The public is invited to attend these workshops and will have an opportunity to discuss their thoughts with Council members and the Administration regarding the budget.
Each member of City Council would like to wish everyone a safe and healthy New Year! –We look forward to seeing you and hearing your comments in 2011.
UPDATES ON CITY PROJECTS:
SNOW DELAYS: The recent nor’easter and accompanying snow has slowed the progress of some of our projects, including road work at 43rd and 63rd Streets, the Excursion Park project, reconstruction of the promenade access ramp at 32nd Street and the south-end dune fence placement/dune grass planting project. However, we expect to get back on track in January. Some weather delays are inevitable, and this is factored into the project schedules.
One item that shore communities can appreciate is that we generally do not perform much construction during most of what is considered “the ideal time” for such work in this region (late spring through summer). We obviously avoid the summer so we don’t negatively impact our busiest tourist season; however, this creates a natural impediment to most effectively scheduling construction.
FUNDING AUTHORIZATIONS: On December 28, City Council introduced funding ordinances to advance a portion of the capital plan adopted by council on December 14. The ordinances include $1.6 million in general building capital funds and $3.5 dollars in water/sewer utility funds. Council will hold a public hearing on these ordinances and take them up for adoption at the January 11 council meeting at 10:00 a.m. The following projects will be able to be accomplished upon approval of the funding:
• A public address system along the entire length of promenade – The system will broadcast public address announcements and music. The police department has researched appropriate systems, and specifications will be finalized upon adoption of the bond ordinance in order for installation to take place prior to the 2011 summer season.
• Reconstruction of our basketball courts and playground on JFK Boulevard between Landis and Central Avenue – The existing basketball courts are severely deteriorated and will be replaced, and new lighting, sidewalks and benches will also be installed. The playground will be replaced with new equipment and the entire ground area will receive a textured, cushioned surface, which is currently only in place at the base of the existing equipment. The existing equipment will either be relocated to the 85th Street playground to replace deteriorated equipment at that location or auctioned on “Gov-deals.” Design work is mostly complete, and the project will be up for bid following adoption of the bond ordinance. Construction is expected to take place in March, April, and May for completion prior to the 2011 summer season.
• Landscaping at the east-side of the Sea Isle Bridge and improvements at the City’s north-end entrance – This project includes new landscaping at our bridge and the addition of landscaping and a new welcome sign at our north-end’s entrance from Strathmere. Landscaping design work will be completed upon adoption of the bond ordinance, and the project will be bid and constructed prior to the 2011 summer season.
• Additional beach walkovers (aka: mobimats) for improved beach access – Acquisition of mobimats for placement at various beach accesses will be made in order to place mobimats (or “Mr. Boardwalk” style walkovers) at all beach access points. Note: where erosion has significantly reduced beach width, there may be no walkovers placed; decisions on walkover placement will be made in early summer. Walkovers to be placed prior to Memorial Day weekend, and placement completed island-wide by mid-June.
• 85th Street Restrooms and Lifeguard Facility upgrades and handicapped accessibility – The existing building has been gutted and is being prepared to be made handicapped accessible. Additional restrooms, new siding and new roofing will also be added. The work is being performed by in-house Public Works forces.
• Furnishings for our new history museum inside the County Library currently under construction at 48th and Central – In preparation for completion of the County Library, scheduled for the coming summer, the City has agreed to provide appropriate furnishings when the Sea Isle City Historical Museum relocates to their new facility inside the Library. The administration is working with Museum Director Mike Stafford to finalize the specifications for the new furnishings.
• Replacement of the marina boat ramp – The administration has authorized the design and preparation of permit applications for the replacement of the boat ramp at the public marina (adjacent to the Sea Isle Bridge). Contingent on the waiver of environmental restrictions regarding the placement of a coffer dam between January 1 and May 31 (due to winter flounder restrictions), the project will be bid in January and completed by April. If the governing agency (National Marine Fisheries Service) does not waive the environmental restriction, work will have to be delayed until fall 2011.
• Continuation of the inflow and infiltration remediation project to reduce flood and groundwater flows into our sewer system. Funding is currently in place for the investigation and preparation of plans and specifications, and construction work to address the first phase of infiltration remediation (Basin 1 sewer system, 22nd to 41st St.). Additional funding in this ordinance will allow the next phase of investigation (cleaning and televising of sewer systems in Basins 4 and 5, 61st to 83rd St. ) to proceed, along with contingency funding for the first phase of remediation work.
• Sewer and road reconstruction on Central Avenue, 49th to 69th Street - The City has made applications to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for a combination grant and loan to accomplish this project, which is estimated at $3.2 million. The USDA grant is anticipated to be in the $750,000 to $1 million range, with the balance in loans.
DID YOU KNOW…
• Sea Isle City will host a fabulous Fireworks display on New Year’s Eve, 8:30 p.m., JFK and the Beach (info: 263-0050).
• Our next City Council meeting is Tuesday, January 11, 2011, 10:00 a.m.
• The SIC Chamber of Commerce will host a “Bagels on the Beach” meeting on Tuesday, January 11, 2011, 8:30 – 9:30 a.m. at the Community Lodge. Guest speaker: Monica Coskey. Topic: Cooperative Advertising. All are welcome to this free event (info: 263-9090).
• The City’s Recreation Department sponsors weekly Yoga and Aerobics classes. Visit our city website, www.seaislecitynj.us, for more details or phone 263-0050.
• The SIC Library will host free “Tween Craft Club” classes for kids, ages 9-14, twice each month on Monday afternoons, January through May (info: 609-463-6354 609-463-6354 ).
• AARP Chapter 710 meets on the second Thursday of the month at 1:00 p.m. inside the Community Lodge (info: 263-3831)
DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION? --If you have questions or concerns, there is no need to wait for an upcoming City Council meeting to express your thoughts. You can contact the head of any City Department today to obtain the answers you need. Visit our website, www.seaislecitynj.us , and click on the Government/City Directory tabs for a complete list of contact information or phone City Hall 263-4461.
