Current Minutes Minutes Archive

April 20, 2007: Call to Order; Pledge of Allegiance.

President's Remarks:

Welcome to TPA Meeting

Roll Call:

1. Chew, Dagmer - P 2. Conant, Audrey - P 3. Crowley, Dennis - P 4. Iurato, Peter - P 5. McCauley, Hugh - A 6. Murray, Bill - P

7. Steenrod, Bob - A 8. Todd, Steve - A 9. Wichterman, Jack - P 10. Williams, Tony - P 11. Wyatt, Kate - P

March 2007 Minutes - K. Wyatt

Approved

Treasurer's Report - P. Iurato

Approved

Membership Report - P. Iurato

2006 Membership - 503 Households—842 Members

2007 Membership - 438 Households - 737 Members

City Manager - Lou Corea

City Budget approved

Introduce Bond for Mall- if passes, Nov or Dec preliminary work [to start]

Taxpayers - ½ cent per assess value per million dollars about 1.75 cents; bond repayment around 2009-10 permanent financing to level debt payment; 3.5 million; issue -state constraint of tax increases—debt service is not included [in the constraint]

Gateway [word] by May1st

Convention Hall - Sub committee recommendation by June; must [break] ground by 4th quarter 2008

Pete Iurato gave survey report at this time (see Convention Hall Survey Report under Old Business )

Public Session

Speaker 1 - Meet CRDA questioned—told time frame should be met to receive [grant] money; cost estimate for work questioned—Lyle Lane, Carpenter Land, Rotary Park; want line by line budget from [city]

Speaker 2 - Beach Theatre Restoration - said RVC Committee Member recommended 2nd floor -probably [cost] about $20 million (Lou responded—unaware of any figures or money on Convention Hall)

Speaker 3 - Sub Committee doing their best within budget

Bill Murray - no recommendations have been made on [Convention Hall] for 2nd floor

Dennis Crowley - proposal from Hotel and Motel [Association]; public likes Mall plan - CM has not changed-commercial/tourism, house rentals do not have to pay room tax; [look at the way] we fund /raise revenues; needs to look at a utility out of tourism; TPA should be the first to raise this issue

Speaker 4 - Why can’t Council provide figures for whole plan for town; all plans , all changes.

Jack Whichterman - Cape May Budget - Council passed budget—chose not to accept our recommendations; oppose adding a police and another for next year and into the future [plan]; Lower Township re-eval changed—CM fee will not be higher

Speaker 4 - Lodging Association in favor of Mall Special Improvement District

Speaker 5 - Patrons paying 4% Sales Tax

Speaker 6 - 3083 residences -85% total line items--29% residential properties are occupied—76% residential-22%commercial—1500 whole house rentals had mercantile licenses

Speaker 7 -Mall is a street cannot give these properties away; Mall properties assess [xx%] and 20% more

Speaker 8 - must continue to move ahead; cannot divide ourselves; economic development 20 million to 103 million; $780,000 collected room tax; Over 1 million [] fees to town last year; let us not divide

Speaker 9 - Kiwianis Club speaker from County regarding beach replenishment—these visitors also go to the Mall

Speaker 10 - Hotels and Motels has to move forward; cost to live here highest in nation; their letter was only another way to finance this project.

Speaker 11 - Revitalization Committee—Mall Merchants are pursuing [SID] for maintenance of mall; [] to fix up their buildings

Speaker 12 - Stop bickering—have to have faith in our officials -get along

Dennis Crowley - process only way to say Cape May

Committee Reports

1. Educational Committee - D. Crowley

• School Budget approved – close race

2. Revitalization Committee - H. McCauley, D. Crowley

• Convention Hall Subcommittee – H. McCauley, D. Crowley
       ~ 1. No recommendation on table at this time
   
• Parking & Traffic Subcommittee – B. Murray
       ~ 1. Monday 1:00 Pm made recommendation to Council
   
• Finance Subcommittee (new) – D. Crowley

3. Council of Affordable Housing (COAH) - R. Steenrod

• No report.

4. Citizen of the Year - Steve Todd

• No report.

5. Technology/Web Site - K. Wyatt, D. Chew

• Completed first pilot survey to Board Members; information moving to website on regular basis at this time

Old Business

• Convention Hall Survey Report –will be posted on web site
   
  1. TPA Sent out 2984 letters

i. 438 surveys returned with dues to join TPA

ii. 152 surveys returned with no dues to join TPA

iii. 78 surveys dues with no survey

iv. 6 surveys from Star and Wave

v. Question responses: 1. 1 -- 380Y—95N 2. 2 – 238Y –265N 3. 3 – 412Y – 68N 4. 4 –399Y—88 N 5. 5 –364Y –132 N 6. 6—302 Y – 180N 7. 7—412 Y – 90 N

New Business

• Review RVC Planning – standardized work plan for each committee
       ~ No additional information at this time
   
• Review Letter – Beach Tents – Do we have a position from a Taxpayers standpoint? – TPA does not have a position on tents.
   
• TPA Board Attendance Policy** - tabled—would require change in By-Laws
   
• Circulate material to board** -- Sponsor not available to discuss
   
• Publicity Committee** -- Sponsor not available to discuss
   
• Policy/Procedure for public comment to Limit to 5 minutes – Anyone wishing to speak longer and present a statement --contact President no later than two weeks prior to the meeting to be added to agenda –yes from Board
   
• Policy/Procedure for letters to Board requesting TPA review of emerging issue
   
• Avalon – FEMA reduction in insurance rates – Jack and Bill following up
   
• Question on how City Council uses Consent Agenda. Standard items like minutes—however, an item may be removed from the Consent Agenda and brought forward for discussion

Final Public Session - Audience Questions

• No speakers.

Adjourn  3:30 PM

Secretary Notes Submitted – Audrey Conant
Notes Processed to Document – Kathleen Wyatt