As a courtesy to our SHPOA Members, we’re bringing you a summary of each Stone Harbor Work Session and Council Meeting. Intended as summaries, these intentionally don’t have a lot of details and are not a substitute for the official Borough minutes.

Work Session

Beach Nourishment and Sustainability
Natural Resources Committee Chair Robin Casper announced that the Army Corps of Engineers had completed the beach nourishment project and had begun the removal of pipes and other equipment. The parking lot and beach access at 123rd Street will be closed during the demobilization of the operation. The approximate date for the completion of the operation is Friday, July 28th.

Council determined that it is an appropriate time due to the completion of the project to consider the next steps to be taken to plan for continuing preservation and improvement of Stone Harbor beaches. Douglas Gaffney (Mott MacDonald) will be invited to the August 1 Council meeting to report on the status of the Stone Harbor Oceanfront Feasibility Study.

The Council will also vote on whether to accept the SHOPA’s offer to purchase GPS elevation survey equipment to measure elevation changes in Stone Harbor beaches and to provide volunteers to gather the data. [Note that subscribers of the Cape May County Herald can read more about this topic at https://capemaycountyherald.com/article/stone-harbor-property-owners-association-offer-becomes-catalyst-for-debate-on-beach-plans/]

Casper also stated that Stone Harbor had sent a letter in support of the Wetlands Institute’s grant request for funding to use clean dredge to rebuild the marshes, as well as protect infrastructure and build resilience for the Institute and the surrounding environment.

Parking
Parking Enforcement Public Safety Committee Chair Frank Dallahan reported that the Council is continuing to seek improvement to the adaptation of the Park Mobile system and announced the appointment of a dedicated officer as a parking “Ambassador.” The officer was assigned the role of assisting visitors to the business district in downloading and using the Park Mobile App to pay for parking. Dallahan also noted that additional signage had been ordered as well as a new banner that will welcome visitors to Stone Harbor and ask them to sign up for Park Mobile. He suggested that the Borough might consider offering individuals over 70 the opportunity to purchase a seasonal parking pass that would allow them to bypass the Park Mobile system and pay a one-time fee allowing them to park in the parking enforcement areas.

A vote is expected at the August 1 Council meeting to consider a request from a property owner to prohibit parking on the south side of Chelsea Place. Parking would be allowed only on the north side of the street under the new ordinance.

Upcoming Events
Upcoming events discussed at the Council Meeting include:
Open House at the Stone Harbor Beach Patrol Life Saving Station on August 4 from 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m.
Green Fair at 95th and Second Avenue on August 7, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Risley Gala to benefit the Stone Harbor Museum at the Reeds, 9601 Third Avenue on August 23 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Council Meeting

The Council approved a number of ordinances and resolutions, including:
Ordinance 1644 – Prohibits smoking in all indoor public, park, or beach and further prohibits smoking in any area of any building of, or on the grounds of, any public or nonpublic school.
Ordinance 1647 – Establishes requirements for storage of salt and other solid de-icing materials to prevent the materials from being exposed to stormwater and damaging the environment.
Ordinance 1648 – Clarifies the authority of the Stone Harbor Police Department to address certain offenses and/or situations that breach the peace of the community.
Ordinance 1649 – Removes Chapter 363 (Penalties for Loitering) from the Borough Code.
Resolution S-171 – Awards the contact for the 96th Street Hotel Beach Shed to the Reeds.
Resolution S-172 – Authorizes the purchase of a ladder fire truck in the amount of $1,299,788.
Resolution S-173 – Approves the application and execution of a grant agreement with the State for local transportation funds ($175,000) to be used for the reconstruction of 96th Street.
The Council also introduced Ordinance 1651 to establish the procedure for appointment, qualifications, and term of the Borough Clerk. A final vote on the ordinance will occur at the Borough’s August 15 Council Meeting.

For legislation discussed at this meeting, please click: http://stoneharbornj.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Regular-Meeting-Agenda-7.18.23-1.pdf

For a video of the meeting, please click: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhVJbgshQxs
To read past Stone Harbor Council Meeting summaries, please click here: https://www.stoneharborpoa.org/category/borough-meeting-summaries/

To watch recordings of past meetings, please click here: https://stoneharbornj.org/agendameetings/watch-mayor-and-council-meetings-online/