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

At its public meeting on Thursday (March 28), City Council gave final approval to an ordinance that raises parking fees at meters that will accept credit cards, but here are five other things from the meeting that might be of interest:

• City Council gave final approval to an ordinance that rezones the ocean side of West Avenue between North Street and Second Street to encourage single-family homes on lots with 30-foot frontages (R1-30). (The lots had been zoned "North End Neighborhood.")
• In a 5-1 vote with Councilman Pete Guinosso dissenting, City Council approved a new contract for local EMTs. The new contract matches other agreements with city unions with no retroactive pay increase for 2012, a 1.5 percent increase for 2013 and a 2 percent increase for 2014. Guinosso disagreed with imprecise language in the contract such as bereavement leave for "close friends."
• City Solicitor Dorothy McCrosson reported to City Council that the city administration expects to propose some time in April new ordinances related to zoning "mechanical issues" in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy. City Council approved some zoning relief on March 15.
• Finance Director Frank Donato reported that the city has applied for hazard mitigation grants that would help build a bulkhead around the entire flood-prone neighborhood of Merion Park and create a pumping station to remove floodwaters. Donato acknowledged that the proposal is expensive and the grants competitive among an entire region vying for assistance in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy.
• Councilman Keith Hartzell asked about the open space at Second Street and Bay Avenue, where a public-private partnership to operate a marina had been proposed. Work crews are currently removing damaged docking and pilings at the site, and the plan is under discussion at the county open space board. No marina will be in operation this summer (as had been proposed), and a revised proposal ultimately could come back to City Council, according to McCrosson.