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

At its public meeting on Thursday, City Council voted to raise required first-floor elevations for Ocean City homes, to ask the federal government to rebuild beaches between 36th and 59th streets, and to rezone the vacant Wawa and Peter Lumber Company properties. But here are five other things that might be of interest:

• City Council unanimously passed the first reading of an ordinance that would waive fees for zoning and construction permits and inspections for repairs and rebuilding related to the Oct. 29 Superstorm Sandy. The temporary waiving of fees would be in effect through May 24, 2013.
• City Council approved a total payment of $145,658 for demolition of the condemned Bellevue Hotel. The city is working to place a lien on the property to recover the demolition expenses. It also filed an claim with the demolition contractor's insurance to recover the costs of fighting a fire at the site.
• City Council unanimously passed the first reading of an ordinance intended to expand permitted uses in the Drive-In Business (DB) Zone centered on West Avenue on either side of Ninth Street. The measure keeps all existing businesses as conforming uses.
• City Council passed a series of resolutions related to emergency spending for storm cleanup after Superstorm Sandy struck on Oct. 29. The city is still working to determine a total cost for the storm recovery effort.
• City Council voted to spend $86,000 in federal Homeland Security money to buy a Zodiac boat for Ocean City Police Department patrols. The administration said it still has not been determined how the boat will be staffed. Council also voted to advertise for bids for the city to acquire new military cargo trucks to replace the ones that plied the deep floodwaters during Sandy. The city hopes to get two or three vehicles at an estimated cost of $20,000 to $30,000, according to Finance Director Frank Donato. The trucks were used during Sandy to fight two structure while the streets were flooded by three feet of water. They were also used to transport residents who ignored evacuation orders.