Newsletter December 16 Commissioners Meeting

The Mayor and Commissioners met for their regular meeting on December 16.  All Commissioners attended except Commissioner McGuiness. Following are some of the actions taken:

  • Unanimously approved proposed ordinance that would amend the City Code by adding a new section to permit the replacement of non-conforming retaining walls under certain circumstances. 
  • Unanimously approved amendments to the City Code changing dates and/or times of day following provisions are enforced.  By making some provisions such as restrictions on sleeping on the beach or occupying the pavilions near the Boardwalk end at daybreak (defined as 30 minutes after dawn by this amendment prepared by Commissioner Mills), greater safety and consistency in rules will result. 

  Define daybreak as 30 minutes after dawn

Change from 5:00 a.m. to daybreak the start of the period bicycles are allowed on the Boardwalk during the summer season (May 15 through September 15). Bicycles are now allowed on the Boardwalk from daybreak until 10:00am, from May 15 through September 15.   

Lengthen the season when left turns are prohibited at the intersections of Rehoboth Avenue and First and Second Streets to May 1 through September 30.

Change the end of the time period that sleeping on the beach is     prohibited from 5:00 a.m. to daybreak (now prohibited from 1:00a.m. to daybreak).

Change the end of the time period that persons are prohibited from the beach from 5:00 a.m. to daybreak (now prohibited 1:00 a.m. to daybreak).

Change the end of the time period that persons are prohibited from the pavilions at the Boardwalk from 6:00 a.m. to daybreak (now prohibited 1:00a.m. to daybreak)

  •  Adopted resolution setting a public hearing to delete section which  limits the hours a restaurant patio may be used.  The public hearing is scheduled for the January 20 Commissioners’ meeting. All voting voted in favor, and Commissioner Mills recused himself from discussion and vote. For continuing information on the patio/noise ordinances, please go to: http://www.saveourcityrehoboth.org/12-blog/current-issues/noise-and-patio-ordinances-current-issues.html
  • Accepted the recommendation of the Audit Committee approving the audit as prepared by the auditing firm Barbacane, Thornton & Co. for the City’s fiscal year ended March 31, 2011.
  • Approved contracting with EDiS to conduct a feasibility assessment,   working with the City Hall Complex Master Plan Task Force, of the City             Hall Complex.  The study will proceed in three sections:

                Information gathering

                Conceptual planning

                Final feasibility study

      The final item may be deleted or limited.

      Commissioner Hunker noted this request was an excellent example of the kind of “outside” help recommended recently by Planning Commission Chair Littleton. Commissioner Sargent remarked on the impressive job done by EDiS in other areas. Such assessments can reduce total project costs because they provide a great deal of information to an architect before that work begins. Commissioners Zellers,Coluzzi and Mills spoke in support of the  recommendation. 

      The recommendation to contract with EDiS for the feasibility study,not to   exceed $75,000 was approved unanimously. For continuing information     on The City Hall Complex Plan, please visit:    http://www.saveourcityrehoboth.org/16-blog/news-articles/113- planning-starts-for-new-municipal-complex-in-rehoboth.html

 · Streets & Transportation Committee: Committee Chair Commissioner Coluzzi reported  on Commissioner Zellers’ “wonderful proposal” to begin a beautification project in Rehoboth Beach. A pilot program was recommended to assess the interest of such groups as Chamber of Commerce, Main Street, and individual residential groups.

Commissioner Coluzzi also reported on continuing concern with speeding on Rehoboth Avenue and hopes to obtain funding for a pilot program using signage to reduce speeding.  The state must approve such a project. The Committee would like to begin with a pilot program near the traffic circle leading out of town.

 Work continues on the Pedestrian and Bicycle Plan.

  • Updates to Comprehensive Development Plan. Commissioner Hunker has completed his “grid” which can track the status of items recommended for action under the 2010 CDP and will circulate it to Commissioners. 

 · Planning Commission report was given by Planning Commissioner Gossett.  The majority of the meeting was devoted to discussing Commission administrative and planning matters, including the election of officers for 2011-2012: Chair Preston “PAL” Littleton, Vice Chair David Mellen, Secretary Francis “Bunky” Markert.

  • City Manager Greg Ferrese gave a report detailing several ongoing projects to improve streets and sidewalks, largely funded by State grants. He also reported that the City has not received information from the Army Corps of Engineers regarding a start date for beach replenishment, but that he would continue pursuing that information so it can be made public as soon as possible to businesses and residents alike. 
  • Police Chief Keith Banks emphasized the need for all residents to lock their homes and vehicles, as thefts can increase in the Winter months while some residents are not in the City.

 For the report on the December 5 Commissioners’ Workshop, please visit:

http://www.saveourcityrehoboth.org/17-blog/newsletter/128-report-on-december-5-commissioners-workshop.html

 

Remember to visit the Save Our City website for the latest in news about Rehoboth Beach and its neighbors:    www.saveourcityrehoboth.org

 

 

Joanne Hess

Recording Secretary

www.save ourcityrehoboth.org