Ocean City Approves Spending for Beach Replenishment by Next Summer

City Council on Thursday unanimously approved borrowing $617,500 to help fund its portion of an anticipated project that would pump sand to widen Ocean City's beaches before next summer.

Ocean City was first approved for an ongoing federal Army Corps of Engineers beach replenishment program in the 1990s. The 50-year agreement calls for maintenance dredging every three years (contingent on the approval of federal funding).

The new project would restore Ocean City beaches from the northernmost jetty near Seaspray Road to an area between 14th and 17th streets. The project would restore those beaches to their original profile — including those at Waverly Beach and Fifth Street Beach that have seen severe erosion.

The beach replenishment program is seen as vital to the economy of Ocean City and other shore towns that rely on summer visitors to thrive.

Ocean City is responsible to fund 8.75 percent of the anticipated $10 million project, with the remainder funded by the Army Corps and state Department of Environmental Protection. Some local funding had already been approved as part of Ocean City's capital improvement plan.

Business Administrator Mike Dattilo said Thursday that the Army Corps hopes to have a contract approved by Sept. 14. The work would be done in conjunction with a project in nearby Brigantine.

The Brigantine portion of the project would be completed first, making the Ocean City work likely to happen in late winter or early spring in 2013.

The second and potentially final reading of the bond ordinance is scheduled for a vote at the Aug. 23 City Council meeting.