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

City Council and at its public meeting on Thursday at City Hall, but here are five other things from the meeting that might be of interest.

•  Council passed the final reading of a measure that eliminates five "city vehicles only" parking spaces. The "housekeeping" ordinance puts on the books three new traffic lights at intersections on Central and West Avenues and five new parking meters on the 800 block of Central Avenue across from the Ocean City Police Department. The parking meters were added to give downtown shoppers more parking spaces and they replace spots formerly marked as "city vehicles only" and used by the Police Department. Matt Dice, an Ocean City Realtor who owns the vacant property behind the police station, agreed to allow the Police Department to use part of his property to replace the parking spaces. Councilwoman Karen Bergman publicly thanked Dice.
• Council approved an ordinance that adds parking meters (25 cents for 15 minutes) in effect 5 p.m. to midnight near the U.S. Post Office on Ocean Avenue. Signs will let people know they won't have to feed the meters when the post office is open during the day, and the new meters will have the caps that accept credit cards and are able to display a message that indicates no payment necessary until 5 p.m.
• Ocean City received dredging permits from the federal Army Corps of Engineers (for 10 years) and the state Department of Environmental Protection (5 years). Business Administrator Mike Dattilo reported that the permits will allow dredging work on the bay side between 15th and 34th streets to begin this summer. He said the window for dredging projects has been extended to June 30 to Nov. 30.
• Ocean City will prohibit swimming at Ninth Street after the Ocean City Beach Patrol leaves on weekdays. Business Administrator Mike Dattilo reported on extended hours for the Ocean City Beach Patrol at three downtown beaches on Fridays and Saturdays and on the that would be available for rescues until 8 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays. But Dattilo said the beach patrol and public safety personnel will keep people out of the water during weekday evenings at Ninth Street Beach, the location of several after-hours rescues this month.
• City Council approved the following appointments: Frank Worrell and Donald Mullen (Ethics Board); Edward McConnell, John W. Quinn and Janet F. Staneruck (Utility Advisory Commission); Michael Buck (Zoning Board of Adjustment); Michael Lucey and Richard Waddell (reappointments to Zoning Board of Adjustment); and Janet F. Staneruck (Shade Tree Committee).