OCEAN CITY — In the five-year capital plan Chief Financial Officer Frank Donato and Director of Operations and Engineering Vince Bekier presented to Ocean City Council Thursday evening, the administration has proposed spending a total of $146 million, with more than a third of that next year.
The proposal includes spending $54.5 million in 2023, $46.8 million in 2024 and the rest split over the final three years.
These are the highlights of the proposal:
— $12 million for paving and drainage improvements with $4 million for 2023 and $2 million each year after that.
— $32 million for flood mitigation projects both north and south with $12 million in 2023 and $5 million each year after that.
— For the beach and bay, $12 million for dredging, with $1 million in 2023, $4 million in 2024 and $2 million each of the next three years. There is $6 million for beach fill including $3 million in 2023 and 2026, $240,000 for beach paths and $85,00 for dune fencing.
— $1.3 million for isolated boardwalk replacement including $1 million in 2023 and $75,000 each year thereafter.
— $9,370,000 for affordable housing in 2023 for new units at Peck’s Beach Village.
— $5.3 million for airport facilities and a golf pro shop, including $300,000 in 2023 and $5 million in 2024.
— $460,000 for beach patrol station renovations, including $350,000 in 2024 and $110,000 in 2026, and $300,000 for non-permanent structures for the beach patrol spread out over five years.
— $150,000 to renovate the City Hall elevator in 2023.
— $2,050,000 for the Community Center, including $1.5 million in 2023 for renovating the Aquatic and Fitness Center pool, $250,000 in 2024 for racquetball room conversion; $50,000 in 2023 and 2024 for locker room renovations and $200,000 in 2025 for the Community Center generator.
— $100,000 for the Civic Center floor in 2026.
— $3 million for the Fire Department, including $2 million in 2024 for headquarters dorm/living area renovations, and, in 2023, $500,00 for dorm/living area renovations and $400,000 for a concrete slab for Station No. 3 and $100,000 to relocate the blue metal building at that station.
— $1.1 million for the Music Pier including $500,000 in building work and $100,000 for new stage lighting in 2023 and $500,000 more for the building in 2026.
— $25.5 million for a new Public Safety Building, including $500,000 in 2023 and the rest in 2024.
— $3.8 million for other work in the city including $2 million in 2023 for the Carey Stadium entry and playground and shuffleboard building; $10,000 a year for public restroom work at four city playgrounds, $325,000 annually for general work and $25,000 a year for LED lighting.
— $2.1 million in 2023 for a new scoreboard, bleacher rehabilitation and general improvements at Carey Stadium.
— $4.2 million for Grimes Field renovation in 2023 and $30,000 annually for playground equipment.
— $1.75 million in 2023 and $765,000 each year after for work downtown and citywide including $125,000 a year for landscaping, $500,000 a year for streetscaping and lighting, $1 million 2023 for the lots by the Community Center.
— $1.05 million for golf course, including $50,000 for redesign in 2024 and $1 million in 2025 to do the work.
— $7 million in 2023 for the tennis and pickleball courts, including $1.3 million for the Fifth Street tennis courts, $1 million for expanding the 18th Street pickle ball courts and $4.7 million for the 34th and West/Asbury recreation facility.
— $7.1 million for vehicles in all departments including $1 million in 2023, $696,000 in 2024 and 2024, $2.07 million in 2026 and $937,000 in 2026. The two big-ticket items are $1.3 million in 2025 and 2026 for fire engine/rescue vehicles.
— $2.8 million spread over five years for other various equipment.
— $631,500 over five years to improve communications including $85,000 in 2023 for beach patrol radios and security initiatives.
— $1.275 million for transportation including $500,000 in 2023 for the Tennessee Avenue boat ramp and flood mitigation improvement.
By DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff
