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

City Council debated at its public meeting on Thursday, Jan. 12, but here are five other things that came from the meeting:

• City Council approved a $294,160 operating budget for the city's Special Improvement Districts (the retail section of the Ocean City Boardwalk, the downtown section of Asbury Avenue and the gateway section of Ninth Street). The budget is funded by assessments on businesses in the districts (based on storefront footage), and goes to marketing, beautification and promoting special event and administrative costs. Council members called for a public meeting (or better promoting existing meetings) to share information with merchants and residents on what the budget includes.
• Freeholder Susan Sheppard honored City Clerk Linda MacIntyre for her work with the Waves of Caring charity. She updated City Council on county issues related to Ocean City, including a countywide decline of $2.1 billion in the ratable base that could affect the county tax rate, a potential resolution calling for the removal of new chain-link fences along the Garden State Parkway (a supposed "counter-terrorism" measure near the Great Egg Harbor Inlet Bridge) and future work on the 34th Street Bridge. "As soon as Ninth Street's done, 34th Street's going to start," Sheppard said.
• Business Administrator Mike Dattilo reminded the public that lagoon mouths on the bay side. Dredging was not part of the 5-year capital plan discussed on Jan. 10, and Dattilo said he had received some questions about why.
• Council approved awarding contracts for road improvements on Bayland Drive, Valmar Court and Summer Court, Wesley Avenue (from 29th to 27th streets) and 29th Street (in the dogleg block between Central and Wesley). . 
• Council appointed Victor Plumbo as a member of the Aviation Advisory Board and Jennifer Bowman as a member of the Advisory Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.