Five Things to Know About Thursday's Council Meeting

City Council voted Thursday to use eminent domain (or whatever other means necessary) to obtain easements for a spring dune and beach replenishment project, but here are five other things from the Oct. 10 meeting that might be of interest:

• Segways on the Boardwalk: The city administration will seek feedback from City Council as it considers revisions or clarifications to ordinances governing the use and rental of motorized vehicles on the beach, boardwalk and streets. A tour operator recently experimented with Segway rentals on the Ocean City Boardwalk on a trial basis.
• Higher Retaining Walls: As owners elevate their homes and try to raise the ground to close the gap, City Council passed the first reading of an ordinance that would allow higher retaining walls (but no higher than 30 inches). Because retaining walls are required when owners change the grade of their lots, the height limit provides a "de facto" control on how much fill you can bring to a site. A second reading and public hearing is scheduled for Nov. 21 after a Planning Board consistency review.
• Elevations in X Zones: City Council approved an ordinance that would apply the highest base flood elevation from any neighboring zone to the areas of Ocean City designated as X Zone on FEMA flood maps. The vote had been scheduled as a second and final reading of the ordinance, but because council amended it, the vote became a first reading. Existing homes in the historic district (where height doesn't change) will be excepted" from the elevation requirement under the amended ordinance. A second reading will be on Nov. 21.
• Poles for Holiday Decorations: City Council approved a $23,113 contract with Kline Construction of Galloway Township for the installation of concrete foundations to support holiday decorations on the 600, 700, 900 and 1000 blocks of Asbury Avenue. Previous work was done on the 800 block. A separate vote approved changes to a $172,000 contract for the supply, installation, removal and storage of holiday decorations. At the request of Councilman Michael DeVlieger, the city said it would try to expedite the expansion of decorations to the southern end of the downtown Asbury Avenue shopping district toward 14th Street.
• Capital Workshop: City Council scheduled a public workshop to discuss capital improvements for Oct. 17. See related letter from Mayor Jay Gillian.