800.OC.OCEAN | OCOCEAN.COM | OCEANCITYMD.gOv STAY CONNECTED. STAY INFORMED. We remain committed to providing you with information about programs, services, current news & events year-round. In addition to this publication, the town continually updates residents & visitors through eNews & social media sites. Sign up for eNews at oceancitymd.gov/enews or find us on social media. OC:Table Come Here, Playof Here, Contents Stay Here!..........2 Bike Path Grant Funds Approved...................2 Canadian Snowbirds Jet Team Visits OCMD....2 Green, Unseen Wind Farms Boardwalk Security Study Approved............2 Town Improves Rental Property Process.....2 ­­ ­­ With­the­possibility­of­an­offshore­wind­farm­obstructing­Ocean­City’s Ocean­City.­It­is­simply­irresponsible.” Gorman Park Adds Pickleball & Racquetball.3 natural­Atlantic­view,­resort­officials­are­working­steadily­to­make­sureOC Supports ­­­ The­Town­of­Ocean­City­is­asking­that­these­projects­be­moved­further IMPorTANT! Election Day Info.........3, 13, 15, 17 OC Life-Saving Station Museum Exhibit…...3 the­quest­for­alternate­energy­does­not­impact­the­horizon­that­residents offshore­in­order­to­keep­the­pristine­ocean­view­that­our­residents­and Convention Center Expansion to Begin Soon.3 and­property­owners­treasure.­Currently,­two­companies­are­processing visitors­know­and­love.­There­is­no­question­that­this­is­feasible,­as­wind NeW! Parking In OC Just Got Easier….............3 permits­to­install­wind­turbines­in­the­ocean­directly­off­the­Ocean­City farms­proposed­in­Virginia­Beach­and­the­Outer­Banks­are­all­located Kayak, SUP & Paddle Boat Rentals................5 coastline.­ The­ proposal­ includes­ more more­ than­ 25­ miles­ off­ the­ coast.­ The Offshore Wind Turbine Height Comparison Tennis Center Open May 15-Oct 1.............….5 than­100­turbines,­which­stand­more­than 800 companies­ developing­ the­ Ocean­ City Tennis Center Improvements....................….5 600­feet­tall,­located­as­close­as­13­miles 700 project­are­opposing­the­town’s­efforts­to Comm. Hurricane Preparedness Meeting....5 from­the­Ocean­City­shoreline.­Photo- 600 move­ the­ wind­ farms­ because­ it­ will UPDATeD! Paid Parking Rates......................….6 graphic­ renderings­ show­ that­ these 500 increase­ their­ costs­ and­ could­ delay Passport Applications…..................…........….11 structures­will­be­clearly­visible­from­the 400 construction. OC University……..............................….....……13 beach­and­more­visible­from­higher­story 300 “We­understand­the­time­and­money ‘The Avenue of Trees’ Sponsorship...…........14 200 ‘Reflections of Life’ Tree……......................…..16 buildings. that­is­potentially­involved­in­moving­the ­­­ The­ Ocean­ City­ Mayor­ and­ City 100 wind­farms,­but­those­concerns­do­not Art League of OC / Center for the Arts........16 0 Statue Washington 2018 8.4mw Century 1 OC Dog Playground..........................….....……17 Council­ have­ openly­ supported­ clean 2005-2010 2010 3mw 2018 8mw Skip Jack justify­ placing­ Ocean­ City’s­ future­ at 2mw of Liberty Monument US Wind Condo Transportation Schedule...........................….18 energy,­ including­ offshore­ wind. risk,”­Meehan­continued.­“These­turbines Vintage OC License Plates…...…................….19 However,­they­have­also­expressed­serious­concern­for­these­projects­to are­permanent­installations.­We­only­have­one­chance­to­make­this­right Town of OC License Requirements..........…20 be­done­in­a­responsible­manner.­“With­the­construction­of­windmills and­if­that­means­the­projects­get­delayed­or­the­developers­make­a­little Annual Canal Dredging Continues…...…..20 off­Ocean­City’s­coast­– each­structure­more­than­twice­the­height­of­the less­profit,­it­will­be­money­and­time­well­spent­to­protect­our­Town.”­ Adopt-Your-Beach-Program.....................…21 tallest­building­in­Ocean­City­and­blades­the­length­of­a­football­field­– ­­­ If­you­share­our­concerns­regarding­the­impact­of­these­projects,­please Click2Gov Online Bill Pay.........…...............…21 there­is­no­question­they­will­be­visible­from­our­shoreline­especially contact­your­State­and­Federal­elected­officials­and­let­them­know­that OC Performing Arts Center..........…....…20, 22 FEMA Approves 2nd Letter of Map Revision.22 when­they­are­lit­up­at­night,”­stated­Mayor­Rick­Meehan.­“It­is­a­threat you­oppose­the­construction­of­offshore­wind­farms­that­are­visible­from Eagle’s Landing Golf Course........................…22 to­our­environment,­our­property­values,­our­economy,­and­the­future­of Ocean­City.­ OC Flags…...…...............................................…23 Park Mobile App……..................…………......…23 Emergency Radio Station, WPSB 99.5.......23 WHere’S THe BUS? DIScover Flood Hazard Protection....................….....…24 OC­is­celebrating­the­introduction­of­the­highly­anticipated­bus­locator­application. A WorLD oF OC Fire Department….................................…25 The­enhanced­service­allows­bus­patrons­to­view­real-time­location­of­buses­with­the OC P.R.E.S.S. Committee Seminar...............26 TransLoc­Rider­app.­Available­for­both­iOS­and­Android,­users­of­the­app­can­watch cULTUre & ArT OCPD Ordinance Reminders........................26 OC­buses­moving­in­real­time,­as­well­as­get­an­accurate­arrival­prediction­of­busses Town of OC Job Openings……...........….....…27 to­their­exact­location­via­the­app’s­text­messaging­feature.­Further,­the­TransLoc­Rider IN o.c. OC City Council….............................................28 SEE PAGE 16 Mayor's Letter……....................................….…28 app­allows­users­to­set­favorite­routes­and­get­personal­alerts­and­it­ultimately­makes OC Numbers…..….................................…….….28 transit­more­accessible­and­convenient.­For more info, visit: oceancitymd.gov 2 OC: Come Here, Play Here, Stay Here! Boardwalk Secu rity With­a­beautiful­beach,­breathtaking­bays­and­a­historic of­life­for­property­owners­in­a­vibrant­tourist­resort.­What Project Approved Boardwalk,­it’s­no­secret­that­Ocean­City­is­an­incredible does­that­mean­for­residents,­you­might­wonder?­With­an place­to­visit.­What­many­may­not­realize,­is­that­OC’s average­tax­bill­of­$1078­(equaling­approximately­$90­a OC­hosts­more­than­8­million­visitors­each­year.­With resort­community­is­also­an­unbelievable­place­to­live! month),­OC­residents­get­a­tremendous­value­for­services the­vast­majority­of­those­visitors­and­residents­frequent- ing­the­Boardwalk,­there­is­no­time­to­waste­when­it­comes Named­ one­ of­ the­ best­ places­ to­ retire­ by­ Where to that­are­designed­to­fit­the­needs­of­a­first-class­vacation to­ safety­ measures­ on­ the­ town’s­ top­ attraction.­ After Retire Magazine,­OC­is­both­a­fantastic­place­to­retire­and destination.­The­cost­of­services­to­live­at­the­beach,­which exploring­ a­ series­ of­ permanent­ and­ semi-permanent an­incredible­place­to­raise­a­family!­With­first-class­public is­essentially­less­than­the­cost­of­one­Caramel­Macchiato barrier­systems, safety­departments,­excellent­county­schools,­amazing per­day,­includes­24/7­Police­and­Fire­service,­solid­waste the­ council recreational­facilities,­reliable­transportation,­and­immac- collection,­more­than­a­dozen­parks,­lifeguard-protected voted­ to­ ap- ulate­neighborhoods,­OC­residents­get­top-notch­services beaches­ in­ the­ summer­ season­ and­ so­ much­ more! prove­ $155,000 for­minimal­costs. To­learn­more­about­what­makes­Ocean­City­a­livable for­ design­ of­ Many­of­the­Town’s­fiscal­efforts­focus­on­providing community­and­see­exactly­what­you­get­for­your­taxes, a­ Boardwalk exceptional­customer­service­and­an­outstanding­quality visit:­oceancitymd.gov/pdf/ReportCitizens17.pdf access­ security system.­ The first­ phase­ of Bike Path Grant Funds approved the­ project­ will be­ installed In­an­ongoing­effort­to­establish­OC­as­a­more­bicycle­friendly­destination,­Town before­ summer officials­are­making­a­concerted­effort­to­establish­designated­bike­routes.­OC­officials 2018.­This­phase were­notified­last­fall­that­the­town’s­Maryland­Bikeways­Program­Funding­was­ap- will­ include proved­in­full­by­the­Maryland­Department­of­Transportation­(MDOT).­A­minor­retrofit temporary­secu- grant­award­of­$99,512­will­be­utilized­to­establish­shared­bike­lanes­in­the­northern rity­barriers­that portion­of­Town.­The­proposed­bike­lanes­were­selected­for­Assawoman­Drive­and­Wight­Street­as­two­of­the­more will­ prohibit densely­traveled­pedestrian­roads.­The­grant­will­also­include­an­extension­of­the­existing­bike­route­on­Sinepuxent unauthorized Avenue.­The­grant­will­provide­funds­to­complete­the­final­leg­of­the­Sinepuxent­bike­route,­to­extend­the­route­from vehicles­from­reaching­the­Boardwalk­crowds.­The­final 130th­Street­to­123rd­Street,­providing­bike­access­to­Northside­Park.­The­bike­route­on­Assawoman­Drive­will­extend phase­of­the­project,­which­is­expected­to­be­completed­in from­118th­Street­to­130th­Street­and­cross­Coastal­Highway­to­tie­into­the­existing­bike­route­on­Sinepuxent­Avenue. 2019,­will­include­permanent­vehicle­access­controls,­as The­bike­route­on­Wight­Street­will­extend­from­135th­Street­to­145th­Street.­The­new­bike­routes­will­include­thermo- well­as­heavy­planters­or­barriers­at­every­potential­vehicle plastic­crosswalks,­thermoplastic­pavement­markings,­and­necessary­signage.­Last­year­a­$57,560­Maryland­Bikeways access­point­and­various­places­along­the­Boardwalk. Program­grant­was­used­to­establish­a­dedicated­bike­route­on­Sinepuxent­Avenue,­extending­from­130th­Street­to­146th