Sea Isle City Real Estate: February 2011

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Sea Isle City Newsletter 2/25

February 25, 2011

MAYOR’S MESSAGE:
I am happy to report that Sea Isle City’s 17th Annual Polar Bear Plunge was a triumphant accomplishment and our largest plunge to date! I would like to thank all of the many people who helped make this year’s plunge a success – especially the organizers and the residents and visitors who took part in the many activities surrounding plunge weekend. The funds that were raised will support many summer events, which will in turn benefit us all.

And speaking of funds, we recently learned that the amount of money the City will receive this year from the lease at Gillian’s Amusement Park for the 2010 summer season (which is based on the park’s total yearly revenue) will be $41,964. That figure is up from last year’s amount of $38,450, which is an indication of the park’s continuing success.

As I announced during this week’s City Council meeting, Sea Isle Revitalization and the Chamber of Commerce will host a town-wide Yard Sale later this summer. The date of the sale has not yet been announced, but I can tell you that we will be waiving the traditional yard sale permit fee for that event so as many home-owners as possible will be inspired to participate. So, clear out your garages, your closets and your attics, and get ready for a big yard sale later this year!

Since crosswalks are very important to pedestrian safety, this year we will be adding even more of the striped walkways here in Sea Isle City. Later this spring, look for new crosswalks at intersections along Park Road and also on our town’s North End, where several new crosswalks will help people cross Landis Avenue along the dune-line.

Because we received some complaints about the timing of the traffic lights at the intersection of JFK Boulevard and Central Avenue, we spoke with Cape May County Engineer Dale Foster to see what could be done about this issue (because JFK is a county roadway). I am happy to announce that the timing for those traffic lights has since been maximized, which should solve that problem.

We have also received several requests to make some changes in Townsends Inlet, where some resident would like to see several two-way streets changed to one-way streets. To address this issue, we have scheduled a public meeting on Saturday, March 12, at the T.I. Fire House on 86th Street at 10:00 a.m., where everyone will be able voice their opinions.

As you must know, not long ago I directed Police Chief Tom D’Intino to temporarily “take the reigns” of Sea Isle’s Volunteer Fire Department, which was having some internal challenges. I am now happy to report that Chief D’Intino has turned control back over to the fire department’s officers, who will continue to work on their by-laws as they serve this community – just as they have done for more than a century. We in Sea Isle City have a top-notch fire department, whose members are totally committed to this town and the people who live here, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank each of our fire department’s volunteers for all they do for this town. It’s not an easy job, yet they are always there when the fire whistle blows.

As spring rapidly approaches, I look forward to seeing more and more of you outdoors, enjoying the fresh salt air. Until then, stay warm!

CITY COUNCIL MESSAGE:

City Council wants to thank all of the people who were involved with the 2011 Polar Bear Plunge Weekend --especially the event’s organizers, who helped make this year’s plunge the most successful and largest to date.

At long last, we are going into the final stage of development at our municipal marina (adjacent to the south side of the Sea Isle Bridge). Council recently awarded a contract for $196,000 to Walters Marine Construction for boat ramp reconstruction, which will be completed this spring. Also in the marina area, you can now see the construction going on for our new marina services building, which will house public restrooms for that area along with showers and restrooms for boat owners who rent slips at our marina.

Council would like to thank the South Jersey Economic Development District, a state run organization designed to strengthen New Jersey’s economy by retaining and growing businesses through financial assistance, by renewing communities, and by promoting the State’s strategic advantages. At the February 22 council meeting, the SJEDD’s Executive Director Gordon Dahl presented Mayor Desiderio with a check for $179,779 for Sea Isle City, which will help pay for our Excursion Park Entertainment Complex, currently under construction.

After the council meeting on February 22, Council held a public budget workshop to discuss possible changes to our 2011 municipal budget with the City Administration. Some minor changes were discussed, but overall the majority of Council feels that the budget is ready to be adopted. At the March 15 Council meeting, public comments will be heard about the budget. We anticipate that because of the “zero tax levy,” public comments will be minimal (yet always appreciated) and we expect to be able to adopt the budget on that date.

PROJECT UPDATES:

Landfill Remediation Project - The city’s contractor, Albrecht & Heun, completed installation of a protective barrier along the bay side of the former landfill at the north end of the City. This project will protect the bay environment as the City works with the State to develop a long term protective barrier along with conversion of the landfill into a passive recreation park.

47th Place Bulkhead – At the February 8 City Council meeting, a construction project to replace the deteriorated street end bulkhead at 47th Place was awarded to Walters Marine. The cost of the project is $133,644. Work is scheduled to commence within the next several weeks in order for the bulkhead to be completed prior to the summer season.

43rd Street Reconstruction – Water and Sewer utility work is substantially completed on 43rd Street between Landis Avenue and Park Road. Following total completion of the utility work and coordination with adjacent construction (including the addition to St. Joseph’s Church), final paving of the street surface will be able to be accomplished.

Landis Avenue Reconstruction, 54th to 69th Streets – The County has agreed to extend the reconstruction and resurfacing of Landis Avenue from 54th to 69th Streets. The City will perform necessary water and sewer utility work in advance of the project. The utility work will commence following the 2011 summer season.

80th Street Water Tower – The contractor, Allied Painting, has substantially completed rehabilitation and repainting of the water tower, which will soon be placed back in service. This was a critical project to maintain the City’s infrastructure in order to ensure delivery of water during peak demand.

JFK Boulevard Basketball Courts/Playground – The project has started with removal of old playground equipment, which will be replaced with state of the art playground equipment. On March 10, the City will receive bids for reconstruction of the basketball courts and lighting, and resurfacing of the entire playground area in order to have the facility ready for Memorial Day Weekend.

Excursion Park Entertainment Complex - Work continues on construction of the band shell and the new pavilion. The form of the bandshell is starting to take place as framing of the structure proceeds. Foundation work for the pavilion has been completed, and the contractor remains on track to complete the project prior to Memorial Day Weekend.

Marina Boat Ramp- At the February 8 City Council meeting, a construction project to replace the deteriorated municipal boat ramp was awarded to Walters Marine. The cost of the project is $196,120. Work is scheduled to be completed by the end of April.

Lagoon Dredging – Surveying and engineering work continues on the project to dredge lagoons citywide. The City is scheduled to meet with representatives of the Department of Environmental Protection within the next two weeks to assess the project and define permitting requirements. The project remains on track to be accomplished in the fall of 2011.

DID YOU KNOW…

• Our next regular City Council meeting is a NIGHT MEETING on Tuesday, March 15, 2011 at 6:00 a.m. on the second floor of the Public Safety Building, 233 JFK Boulevard.
• Sea Isle City’s newly updated website, www.seaislecitynj.us, is better than ever!
• 2011 Seasonal Beach Tags are now on sale at City Hall for the pre-season price of $15 (after May 15 seasonal beach tags cost $20). Beach tags can be pre-ordered by mail at the discount price by downloading the 2011 beach tag application and mailing in your payment. After April 15, you can pick up your reserved tags at the Beach Tag Office (263-1771). Remember: Beach Tags make great gifts!
• Vote today! Sea Isle City is once again a contender in the 4th Annual “New Jersey’s Top Ten Beaches” contest. In 2010, we were rated #5 on the list of the Garden State’s best beach resorts and this year we hope to be #1, so please visit www.njtoptenbeaches.org and vote in all three categories: Family Vacation, Day Trips and Eco-Tourism. –And tell all of your friends!
• A public meeting to address one-way streets in Townsends Inlet will be held at the T.I. Fire House on Saturday, March 12, at 10:00 a.m.
• The Sea Isle City Saint Patrick’s Day Parade is March 12 at 3:30, 94th to 63rd Streets.

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Sea Isle City Calendar of Events for March and April

EVENTS IN SEA ISLE CITY
MARCH/ APRIL, 2011

TOWNSENDS INLET CIVIC CENTER - SPRING OPEN HOUSE
March 5, 2011, 7:00 – 8:00 pm, T.I. Civic Center - 138-85th St.
Info: (609) 263-3002 or www.senaworld.org

KIX-MCNUTLEY’S ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE
March 12, 2011, 3:30 pm (Rain or Shine), 93rd-63rd Sts. & Landis Ave.
Info: (609) 263-4461, Ext. 230 or (609) 263-6341

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE/REVITALIZATION - GIRLS’ WEEKEND
March 25 – 27, 2011
Info: (609) 263-9090 or www.seaislerevitalization.com

OCEAN DRIVE MARATHON
March 27, 2011, Cape May to Sea Isle, 9:00 am, Pre-registration and fee
(Sea Isle 5K Run, 42nd St. & Pleasure Ave., Registration 8 am, Run 10 am, $30)
Info: (609) 523-0880, odmracedirector@comcast.net or www.odmarathon.org

EASTER PROGRAM
April 13, 2011 (Rain Date: April 14), 4:30 pm, ages up to 11 years
Aurora’s Play By The Bay - 6108 Central Ave.
Info: (609) 263-0050 or www.seaislecitynj.us

ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION - BEACH CLEAN UP
April 30, 2011 (Rain Date: May 1), 10:00 am – 12:00 pm, Beach Tag Office - 125 JFK Blvd.
Info: (609) 263-2081

AEROBICS
Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays - Adults, 9:00 a.m. @ Community Lodge
$5/class or $40/10 session pass

YOGA
Wednesdays @ 7:00 p.m., Fridays @ 7:30 a.m., $10/class
Info: (609) 602-3398 or www.njbeachYOGA.com

SENIOR CITIZENS SIT & BE FIT
Wednesdays & Fridays, 2:15 – 3:00 p.m. @ Community Lodge, No fee

Submitted by the Sea Isle City Department of Community Services
*VISIT THE SEA ISLE CITY WEBSITE AT www.seaislecitynj.us *

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Sea Isle City Podcast

A co-worker and I started a podcast about Sea Isle City, please check it out!

itunes link

non-itunes link

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Sea Isle City News 2/10/11

February 10, 2011

MAYOR'S MESSAGE:

As you know, today’s “Communication Age” allows each of us to stay in touch with the outside world in a variety of wonderful and convenient ways. Thanks to the internet, smart phones, emails and text-messages, it’s never been easier to connect with others and accomplish our goals quickly and efficiently.

Realizing this, I feel that it is important to continually explore new ways to communicate with our residents and visitors. That’s why I am pleased to announce the launch of our new City website, www.seaislecitynj.us, which was updated earlier this week. Not only does our website now have a new look, it is also very easy to navigate. Plus, it contains information you may be looking for, including meeting times, our calendar of events, contact phone numbers and email addresses, tourism updates and plenty of links, including to Sea Isle’s Facebook and Twitter pages. And, of course it is also where people sign-up for our City’s E-News System, which includes these bi-monthly E-Newsletters. (By the way, please let your friends without computers know that paper copies of our E-Newsletters are always available at City Hall).

TV Channel 2, the home of Shore TV, is another great place to learn about what’s happening in Sea Isle City. Shore TV is a 24-hour television broadcast system that we share with Avalon and Stone Harbor, and it is also where you can view our new “Sea Isle Minute” segments, which spotlight local community leaders who have some great things to tell you about your favorite island resort! So, be certain to tune-in to Channel 2 everyday!

Deciding exactly what information you need to know can be a challenge, but obtaining that information shouldn’t be. That’s why we will continue to communicate with you in a variety of ways. –After all, staying well-informed is important for each of us!

CITY COUNCIL'S MESSAGE:

At the February 8 City Council meeting, Council introduced the 2011 Local Municipal Budget, which has a “zero” tax rate increase this year. We will host a budget workshop that is open to the public on Tuesday, February 22, at 1:00 p.m. to discuss each City Department and make any changes as needed. There will also be a public hearing on Tuesday, March 15, at 6:00 p.m. in Council Chambers to discuss the City’s 2011 Budget. We are still waiting to hear from the State of New Jersey to learn when the final adoption of the budget can occur.

Also at the February 8 meeting, Council awarded a professional service contract to Center Stage Entertainment for $79,900. Center Stage Entertainment and our Community Services Department have lined-up some great free weekend entertainment for the summer of 2011 under our new Band Shell at Excursion Park. Some of the acts are very well-known, such as The Sensational Soul Cruisers on June 18, The Duprees on July 16, The Quaker City String Band on July 23, Real Diamond (Neil Diamond tribute) on July 30, Beatlemania Again (Beatles tribute) on August 6, Don’t Call Me Francis on August 20 and many others.

Rental Permits are now being issued through the City Clerk’s Office at City Hall. All property owners who rent any dwelling are required to purchase a rental permit for $125 before May 1. A portion of each rental permit fee goes directly to Sea Isle’s Tourism Commission, which in turn promotes our town and makes Sea Isle a premier destination.

Mercantile Permits for 2011 are also now available at City Hall or online. All business owners are reminded to get their permits right away. For additional information about Rental or Mercantile Permits, phone the City Clerk’s Office, (609) 263-4461 ext.200.

Council continues to work to control spending while providing the perfect sea shore experience for all. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact any of your City Council members. Our contact info is available on the City’s new website under Government/City Directory. We look forward to hearing from you and seeing you this summer!

UPDATE ON CITY PROJECTS:
• Excursion Park Entertainment Complex: Work continues on the construction of the band shell and the new pavilion, as the contractor tries to take advantage of the limited good weather over the past month. Completion of this project is still scheduled prior to Memorial Day Weekend.

• Marina Building: Piling foundation work has been completed, with steel framing of the building anticipated to be completed in March. The building is scheduled to be substantially finished and ready for operation by the end of May.

• 43rd Street Utility Replacement and Repair: Utility work is substantially complete and repaving is scheduled to be completed by the end of May.

• 47th Place Bulkhead Replacement: This project was awarded to Walters Marine Construction at the February 8 City Council meeting for the contract amount of $133,644. The work will be performed through the spring and completed prior to the 2011 summer season.

• 32nd Street Promenade Ramp Reconstruction: Work will be restarting after considerable delays due to inclement weather. This project is being completed by in-house forces and involves complete replacement of the foundation infrastructure along with all new decking.

• 85th Street Lifeguard Station/Public Restrooms: Work continues on framing and interior renovations to completely rehabilitate the structure, provide for handicapped accessible restrooms, additional restroom facilities and improved storage capacity for lifeguard operations.

• Public Library at 48th and Central: The contractor has substantially completed the building sheathing, giving form to the new building; and work continues to progress on the project as the contractor works toward completion this coming summer.

• Public Address System for Promenade: The City is preparing specifications for a project to provide a public address system for the full length of the Promenade for the coming summer season. The PA system will be utilized for announcements and music on the promenade.

DID YOU KNOW…

• Due to the Lincoln’s Birthday Holiday, City Hall and all other municipal buildings will be closed on Friday, February 11.

• 2011 Polar Bear Plunge Weekend is February 18-20. This year’s official plunge site is the 40th Street Beach at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 19. Other activities include the Polar Bear Prince & Princess (ages 10-16) and King & Queen Contests on Friday night, a costume contest on Saturday, a 5K Run/1M Walk for Autism on Sunday, and vendors selling items all weekend. For additional information visit www.seaislecitynj.us or phone 263-3756.

• A FREE Trolley Service is available for The Polar Bear Plunge, courtesy of Sea Isle Revitalization. Trolleys will run along Landis Avenue (29th to 93rd Street) and also along Park Road, 10am to8pm, Saturday, February 19.

• Sea Isle City has another published author living in town: Former SIC Publicist Dr. Irene Jameson has penned Memoirs of a Polar Bear Queen, which she will sell during this year’s Polar Bear Plunge to raise funds for children with Autism. Info: 263-2968.

• The Strathmere Ensemble will perform a special winter concert on Sunday, February 20, 4 p.m., SIC United Methodist Church, JFK and Park Road. Admission is free, however donations will be accepted. Info: 263-6185.

• Due to the President’s Day Holiday, City Hall and all other municipal buildings will be closed on Monday, February 21. PLEASE NOTE: There will be no curbside trash collection on February 21. All trash collections that week will be moved up one day, therefore if your collection day is Monday your trash will be collected on Tuesday (Tuesday’s trash will collected on Wednesday, etc.) Also, the Trash & Recycling Yard adjacent to the Sea Isle Bridge will be open on Sunday, February 20, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., however the yard will be closed on Monday, February 21.

• Our next regular City Council meeting is Tuesday, February 22, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. on the second floor of the Public Safety Building, 233 JFK Boulevard. At this meeting, the Administration will present a detailed analysis of our trash and recycling collection operations, with information on the cost of these services.

• Like many communities across the nation, Sea Isle City sells unwanted merchandise and supplies online at GovDeals, where items are auctioned at great savings. For a direct link to GovDeals.com, visit our City website: www.seaislecitynj.us .

• Sea Isle City's newly updated website, www.seaislecitynj.us, is better than ever.

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Sea Isle City Real Estate Update 2/9/11

Well we are off to a good start! So far, since January 1st, 12 homes have gone under contract.

The homes that have closed since the last update are:

234 38th Street, asking price $549,900, sold price $530,000