Five Things to Know About Tuesday's Council Agenda

City Council meets on Tuesday (Oct. 22) this week to avoid a conflict with Thursday's Halloween Parade. 

Council has a full agenda for its meeting 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Ocean City Free Public Library, and it will consider a redevelopment plan for a marina and restaurant on the bay near 10th Street. But here are five other things that might be of interest:

• Taking dune easements by eminent domain: City Council will consider the second and potentially final reading of an ordinance that calls for using whatever means necessary ("negotiation, purchase, condemnation or eminent domain") to secure the easements necessary for future beach replenishment projects, including an Army Corps of Engineers project for the south end now scheduled for March 2014. In a recent update, Business Administrator Mike Dattilo said the city expects to have fewer than 18 outstanding agreements by the time of Tuesday's vote. In the first reading of a separate ordinance, City Council will vote to sign easements for city-owned property in the project area.
• Creation of a new Hospitality Zone: City Council will consider the first reading of an ordinance creating a new downtown "Hospitality Zone" to replace three existing zones in the downtown area of the Ocean City Boardwalk. The new zone would encourage development but also permit residential uses that are now nonconforming.
• Open Space Plan: City Council will hear a report from the Environmental Commission on an updated open space plan.
• Bulkhead Repairs: City Council will vote to approve a $268,000 contract with Walters Marine Construction of Ocean View for the repair of bulkheads on the bay at Seventh Street and at Landing Road. Adjacent pavement and sidewalks will be elevated to 10-year storm elevation.
• Emergency Sand Hauling: City Council will vote to approve an as-needed contract with H4 Enterprises of Cape May Court House to haul sand (from the beach on the north end of Ocean City or from off-island) to any Ocean City beach that needs to be bolstered to protect property this winter.