Minutes of Work Session Meeting of the City of Wildwood Council in the County of Cape May

MINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE WILDWOOD COMMISSIONERS IN THE COUNTY OF CAPE MAY, NEW JERSEY

Wednesday, May 15, 2017 Commissioners Meeting Room Time: 2:30 p.m. MEETING CALLED: Meeting called to order by the Mayor.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE City Clerk leads in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

ROLL CALL City Clerk called the roll and the following Commissioners answered to their names: Byron – here, Leonetti – here, Troiano – here

OTHERS ATTENDING Mary D’Arcy Bittner, Solicitor Marc DeBlasio, Remington, Vernick & Walberg Engineers Ray Roberts, Remington, Vernick & Walberg Engineers Robert Regalbuto, Police Chief Daniel Speigel, Fire Chief John Davis, Code Enforcement Tom Micelli, Beach Services Christopher H. Wood, City Clerk Lisa Brown, Aide to City Clerk

OPEN PUBLIC MEETING ANNOUNCEMENT As per N.J.S.A. 10:4-12, City Clerk read the Open Public Meetings Act Announcement.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS: ● Litter/trash signage on lifeguard stands The City Clerk said he spoke with North Wildwood and they do not have anything in writing relative to signage on the back of lifeguard stands or beach entryways. He suggested having it memorialized by resolution. Mayor Troiano requested to add this Resolution to the next regularly scheduled Commissioner’s meeting. The Board agreed.

● DEP/Dunes on the Wildwood beaches Mayor Troiano said there is a concern about dune location and will listen to the public comment about it. Mayor Troiano said he will be clear that he is not in favor of parking on the beach or having the dunes pushed out. He said it would raise a security issue due to the site line being lost, and not being able to see what’s happening on the other side of the dunes. Commissioner Leonetti said it is a security issue to lose site of the beachgoers from the boardwalk should the dunes be pushed out. However, he asked for a couple of key people to attend, and would like to hear all the comments. After listening to all the comments, he said he will give his opinion on the matter. Commissioner Byron said this discussion is not about parking on the beach, it’s about placement of the dunes. The Mayor opened the floor for public comment.

Tom Byrne, Chairman of GWTIDA, referred to the Vision 2015 Plan. He stated the Convention Center would like to have more parking and feels the Vision 2015 Plan would go to the wayside should the dunes be placed closer to the Boardwalk. He said GWTIDA would lose the opportunity to have parking within their own infrastructure. Having the dunes placed close to the Boardwalk would put an end to that, and he would like to see them placed further out.

Ken Schwartz (Special Improvement District) said that Wildwood has a once in a lifetime opportunity to enhance the Wildwoods. He feels that moving the dunes further out will not affect activities, and would also allow for a bike path. He believes it would change the nature of the beach and boardwalk in the long run.

Steve Tecco (Greater Wildwood Hotel/Motel Association) also endorsed the Vision 2015 Plan. He understands that are multiple layers to this, but what’s important is that everyone gets together to discuss the issues. He said no one has to make a decision today, but that Wildwood will only get one try at this. It’s his understanding that a concert venue is going to be established, and with that, parking would be a tremendous benefit. He said they can have both - dunes and bike paths. Mr. Schwartz knows everyone cares about the island and recommends cleaning the slate and starting fresh, to see if a compromise could be reached that would be beneficial to all.

Dan McElrevey (Doo Wop Preservation) agrees with everything Mr. Tecco said, and that this matter requires further discussion and compromise. He said the bike path on the beach can go around the piers, and that having the dunes next to the boardwalk is illogical. Mr. McElrevey believes parking is very important to the Convention Center, and urged everyone to keep an open mind, and to look at the options and consider the impact.

Will Morey (Morey’s Piers) thanked Christopher Constantino and John Benigno from the DEP for attending this meeting, as well as Alan Nau, who’s proposing a series of concerts on the beach this summer. Mr. Morey feels that they could have it all. All, meaning, a recreation area, additional parking, concert space and a bike path, but they have to work together. He would like to come to the conclusion that is win/win for everyone if they talk it through.

Jack Morey (Morey’s Piers and GWTIDA) would like this meeting to be more of a discussion and thanked the Board for scheduling this meeting. He said he researched concert venues around the country, noting the square footage of each venue. He said concert venue on the beach in Atlantic City is 250 ft., which is certainly not wide enough. He feels that Alan Nau could hold a top notch concert with a venue of 450 ft., with the dunes placed away from the boardwalk. He feels it’s a great opportunity for the rebirth of Wildwood. He said this town does not have high end homes, but it has the boardwalk. He believes that will allow for the creation of low density, high end residential and retail space. He said public space generates ratables and the west side properties would be positively impacted by this as well. He said this will allow certain areas to go from desert to lush pieces of landscape, which would add the possibility of high end retail. Commissioner Byron referred to the dog beach saying he’s received many phone calls relative to the new location, and learned that some people have planned their vacation based upon the dog beach. Mayor Troiano asked Jack Morey if they were able to hold the concert within a 450ft. venue, where would the public go to the beach and how would the trucks that have to access the beach and piers go? Mayor Troiano said beachgoers would have to walk three blocks out of their way to access the beach during the concerts. Will Morey asked how many concert days are being anticipated. Mayor Troiano said 4-6 with each one needing a week for set-up and dismantling, so that’s 4-6 weeks of the summer. Will Morey said most people generally will not go to the beach when there’s a concert anyway. Alan Nau said his idea was to make Wildwood the mecca it was years ago. He proposed to have a 600ft concert venue which would be the largest beach concert around. Mr. Nau said the Morey Organization wants it reduced to 450ft., which would force him (Nau) to turn the stage around to face the condos. He thinks everyone’s measurements are wrong, and everyone has to come to an agreement with the measurements. He’s willing to do what’s best for the City, but he doesn’t believe the reduced space will work. Commissioner Leonetti asked Mr. Nau if Schellenger Ave. is completely out of the picture. Mr. Nau said the problem with that location is more families are on the boardwalk in that area, and he doesn’t want them to be exposed to some concert goers who’ve been drinking alcohol. He feels it’s best to have it south of the Convention Center, as it wouldn’t interfere so much. Mayor Troiano feels using the most valued property as parking lots is not in the best interest of the City. Jack Morey suggested using the beach as a temporary parking lot until something else happens. He said there’s a lot of beach and a lot of events. The City could have the best of both worlds. Jack Morey said the Morey organization hosts the largest beach soccer tournament in the world and he may have to change the site plan. He believes there is so much of an up-side to this that revising the site plan wouldn’t inconvenience them (Morey’s) in the least. Mayor Troiano said with dunes comes maintenance, and there’s no way the City can maintain that area. He said the City can’t tax the people anymore; taxes are high enough already. Commissioner Byron believes the dunes will serve as a buffer for beachgoers who are not interested in attending the concert. Mayor Troiano said the City put forth the idea of having parking on the North side of the Convention Center, but GWTIDA didn’t seem to approve of the suggestion. Will Morey wasn’t aware of any discussion relative to parking on the north side. Commissioner Leonetti asked why parking on the North side wouldn’t work for GWTIDA. Tom Byrne said it wouldn’t work because of the infrastructure. They already have booths established on the other side. He said if parking was placed on the North side they would have to pay for additional employees. Mayor Troiano doesn’t think this would be a great expense to the Convention Center. Mr. Siciliano suggested they could possibly work something out with the City so there’s revenue to be made for the City. Mayor Troiano said there’s always room for compromise. Right now he has an opportunity to bring in a world class concert venue and he’s not willing to forgo that opportunity. He sees the opportunity to place the parking lot north of the Convention Center, but it’s just not going to work at the south end. Will Morey asked if moving the dunes out by 200ft. would work. Mayor Troiano said he doesn’t think it would be the end of the world, but it’s going to be a struggle to get people up and over two obstacles. Will Morey said they should try to figure out the economics.

Catina Simmons of 205 E. Hand Avenue - Doesn’t love the idea of having a parking lot at the end of her street. She feels this could negatively influence rentals. She’s also not in favor of having a playground on the beach at that location either. Commissioner Byron asked why she wouldn’t be happy seeing a playground there. She said they would have the same problems as North Wildwood does with its playground. Commissioner Byron said this is a dead area and doing this will help occupy the retail spaces in Ocean Towers, and drive up the property values. Ms. Simmons said Ocean Towers is the reason there are vacant retail spaces, nothing else. Ms. Simmons feels the City can come up with something better than a volleyball court and playground.

Ms. Henderson, of Ocean Towers, said they are not opposed to parking on the beach, they just don’t want it so close to Ocean Towers. They are also in favor of the concerts, but would like to see everything placed north of Leaming Avenue. Mayor Troiano said he’s not opposed to parking on the north side of the Convention Center, but clearly there are 177 residents from one facility who would not be happy with parking on the south side. He’s also not in favor of moving the dues out in the third ward. Mayor Troiano said he’s not trying to hurt the Convention Center and he knows the importance of having a Convention Center in Wildwood. He said Wildwood needs ratables, hotels, and by having more hotel rooms available, the Convention Center could hold more events.

Jason Hesley, Tax Assessor, suggested repurposing what’s already here. Parking lots on the beach are least valuable, and he suggested using Fox Park as a parking lot and moving the Vietnam Wall and band shell to another location. Mayor Troiano said Fox Park is Green Acres property. He said they all have to look ahead, and he feels parking lots are not as valuable as everyone thinks they are.

Jack Morey asked if the Board has considered placing RV’s on the North said of the Convention Center as a source of revenue. Commissioner Byron said he is all for the RV’s, but is thinking of an alternate location with easier access.

Mayor Troiano asked Chris Constantino if Wildwood Crest is bringing the beach in as well. Mr. Constantino said they (DEP) proposed the same plan for the Crest as they did for Wildwood. Mayor Troiano asked how far the beach would be moved in. Mr. Constantino said it would vary. The maximum line is to the backside of the outfall pipes, but they would have to reevaluate if they are removing the outfall pipes. Mr. Constantino said they need 1.4 million yards of sand. Three million yards is the maximum pull to elevate and build dunes. Mr. Constantino said he needs all plans, recommendations and changes no later than June 15, as he would have to make sure that everything the City is requesting is permitted. Mayor Troiano asked what the chances were for Wildwood to lose its beach. Mr. Constantino said he couldn’t answer that, but believes the chances are very low. Mayor Troiano said so far the City has lost 130ft of beach, and it will get measured again this year. He said the City has given a lot of sand to North Wildwood. Mayor Troiano asked if there will ever come a point where North Wildwood will no longer have a beach. Mr. Constantino said that could happen if the money runs out, or if they abandon the shoreline. Commissioner Byron thinks it would be a mistake to put dunes against the boardwalk since Wildwood’s beach is so huge. By pushing the dunes out 300ft., he doesn’t think it wouldn’t interfere with traditional events. For those few events the dunes would interfere with, the event organizers would have to be willing to compromise. He said this could have a tremendous effect on the City if we do not do this. He said to be the only community in Cape May County to not have a bike path is absurd. He said he’s not interested in putting the bike path on the east side of the dune, but the path should be placed between the dunes and the boardwalk. He said the City also wouldn’t need to have the outfall pipes taken care of with the grant the City has now. Commissioner Byron feels Wildwood will lose very little space, if any at all.

Commissioner Leonetti said he’s not ready to commit either way and he sees the opportunity to compromise. Mayor Troiano thanked everyone for coming.

ORDINANCE: 1074-17 Establishing Parking and Associated Fees at Municipal Beach Parking Lot (INTRODUCTION/FIRST READING)

MOTION: Troiano SECOND: Byron ROLL CALL: Byron – Yes, Leonetti – Yes, Troiano – Yes Mayor Troiano announced Ordinance 1074-17 has passed First Reading.

ADJOURNED: There being no further business to be discussed, this meeting was adjourned at 5:00 p.m. Remarks as typed highlighted not verbatim as to subject matter.

MOTION: Byron SECONDED: Leonetti ROLL CALL: Byron – Yes Leonetti – Yes Troiano – Yes

______PETER BYRON, COMMISSIONER

______ANTHONY LEONETTI, COMMISSIONER

______ERNEST TROIANO, JR., MAYOR

ATTEST:______CHRISTOPHER H. WOOD, CITY CLERK

DATE MINUTES APPROVED: May 24, 2017

CHRISTOPHER H. WOOD, CITY CLERK