Aim is for funding for beach replenishment
OCEAN CITY — In a two-pronged approach to deal with the damage done to the resort’s beaches from recent storms, Ocean City Council approved a local disaster declaration and an engineering contract in case the city has to do its own beach replenishment work.
At the Oct. 23 City Council meeting, the two items were approved in the consent agenda, on which council votes for a number of items without additional discussion.
The $30,200 contract with ACT Engineers Inc. is for permitting services “for possible beach nourishment and restoration activities.”
The resolution notes ACT is advised the award “does not guarantee that the services described will be required” and are “subject to the actual need.”
The proposal for the contract, provided by Junetta N. Dix, director of environmental services for ACT, explains how federal funding for beach projects has not been included in the budget.
“As you are aware, the federal government matching program failed to provided funding this year for beach nourishment activities and, although next year’s funding has been promised, it remains tenuous,” Dix wrote. “The past few storm events have clearly demonstrated that regular beach nourishment activities are paramount for the city to maintain the beaches and prevent wave breaching resulting in loss of property and possibly life.”
Dix said in case state and federal agencies are not able to conduct the beach replenishment, ACT would have the city prepared to be in a regularly position to conduct them.”
The beach nourishment permits would be good for 10 years, should the city need to do its own work, Dix wrote.
The related resolution that was approved declares a local emergency and urges immediate state and federal action to address the “severe and ongoing beach erosion” in Ocean City.
It states Hurricane Erin in August and the October nor’easter “battered the coast” and caused “critical and accelerating beach erosion, including significant dune loss, destruction of protective berms, and threats to both public and private property, placing the city in an emergency state of vulnerability ahead of the winter storm season … .”
It points out the planned replenishment by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has been delayed, leaving areas unprotected, then calls upon federal, state and county officials to take immediate action for intervention and funding.
Specifically, the resolution considers it a local emergency along the coastal beaches from First through 13th streets.
The resolution is being sent to Gov. Phil Murphy, U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew, state Sen. Michael Testa, Assemblymen Antwan McClellan and Erik Simonsen, the Cape May County Board of Commissioners, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, state Department of Environmental Protection, county Office of Emergency Management, the other municipalities in the county and the New Jersey League of Municipalities.
Upper Township has made a similar declaration because of damage to the beaches in Strathmere.
Mayor Jay Gillian told councilmen his administration has been in touch with Van Drew.
– STORY and PHOTOS by DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff