Five Things to Know From City Council's Meeting on Thursday

At Thursday's public meeting, City Council on rebuilding the Boardwalk with tropical hardwood, that will be complete by next summer and heard an . But here are five other things from the meeting that might be of interest:

• Councilman Pete Guinosso reported that — based partly on a decrease in year-round population — Ocean City lost points in the rating system that determines flood insurance premiums. Guinosso and Business Administrator Mike Dattilo will arrange for insurance adjusters to explain the system and its impact Ocean City property owners in a presentation at the public City Council meeting on Aug. 23.
• Dattilo reported to City Council that a final draft of a revised Master Plan (guiding future development in Ocean City) will go to the Planning Board early next week. The board anticipates making a public presentation of the Master Plan at a Sept. 5 meeting that will be videotaped. The plan also will be posted on the city website, where feedback will be solicited. A joint-Planning Board-City Council meeting on the Master Plan will likely be scheduled for Sept. 20. A public hearing on the plan could take place on Oct. 1. And the Planning Board could potentially adopt the plan at its Oct. 10 meeting.
• Councilman Keith Hartzell reported that he will continue his push for road and drainage improvements after . Hartzell said he will work through the capital budgeting process that starts in September, and he suggested that cuts in spending (through measures such as ) combined with low-interest borrowing could help Ocean City expedite road projects. Business Administrator Mike Dattilo reported that the city estimates improving all roads and alleys in need of repair would cost $90,850,000. The estimate is based on the city's existing road rating system (on a scale of 100 with the lower numbers indicating roads most in need of repair) and costs for recent road projects. Dattilo said it would cost $55.2 million to fix all roads rated 80 or worse, $42.5 million for 70 or worse, and $29.9 million for 60 or worse. Dattilo advised that while the estimates include drainage improvements, they don't account for a significant flood mitigation program.
• Dattilo reported that south end beaches in Ocean City are not part of the approved beach replenishment program area that will see new dredging by next summer. The approved area stretches from the north end of the island to 36th Street (though the new round of pumping will stop around 14th to 17th streets). The beaches near 57th Street have seen significant erosion but are still awaiting approval for federal funding.
• City Council approved a resolution seeking bids on irrigation improvements, including an area on the 3400 block of Haven Avenue, where salt-resitant plants may replace overgrown trees.