SUMMARY OF DEWEY BEACH TOWN COUNCIL MEETING SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2007

This Money will be used for a Warning System, 2 Satellite Telephones, and a Laptop Computer .

The 2007 Seasonal Police Hourly Wage will be $10.50 which is the same as the Lifeguards.

II. Public Discussion and Vote to rescind the Ordinance 552 that declared a moratorium on applications for conditional use of existing Hotel/Motel conversions. This was more of a Procedural Ordinance that was not needed anymore. Our Commissioners voted 5-0 to approve.

III. Public Discussion on the construction of Public Bathrooms and Parking Lot at the Lifesaving Station on Dagsworthy Street. This proposal is being sponsored by Mayor Tush.

The proposal is for a 15 x 35 foot Complete Bathroom facility and a 20 space unpaved shell parking lot.

The estimated "ballpark" cost is about $85,000 for the Bathrooms and Parking Lot .

The Commissioners agreed 5-0 to bring this to a Vote at the next Town Council meeting in March .

IV. Public Hearing to rescind Section I of Ordinance 553 which was the Noise control ordinance.

The probation period expired on December 10th, 2006 and there was a Grand Total of only 1 complaint last year. The 1 complaint was from a Tourist staying at the Atlantic who complained about the Music from the Bottle & Cork. The Commissioners are compiling Data to discuss and Vote on this at the March Council meeting.

V. Discussion on a draft ordinance to amend the Real Estate & Broker's Business License Fees.

The discussion revolved around the Public Notification that this would take place today. The Agenda was amended on 2-8-07 at 3:10 PM which our Town Attorney, John Brady, said was legal as there needs to be a 7 Day Public Notice however Amendments can be made at any time as long as they were "publicly" posted.

Commissioner Eisenhauer said he was trying to correct his mistake at the last meeting where he thought he "seconded" the motion to bring this to a Vote today. The proposal is to change the existing Fee structure.

Currently a Real Estate Brokerage pays $1,000 for the Year and each Agent pays $50. The proposal would lower the Broker Fee from $1,000 to $350 and raise the Agent fee from $50 to $100.

There are 14 Brokers and 185 Agents who do business in Dewey Beach so here is the Revenue Impact.

The Discussion revolved around why are we only addressing only 1 of the 6 Business groups and not the total Business License structure. The other 5 types of businesses in town are Bars, Conforming Restaurants, Non-Conforming Restaurants, Hotel/Motel and General Business.

The Budget & Finance Committee sub committee, chaired by Charlie Pollard, will be meeting this Friday, February 16, 2007 at 10:00 a.m. at the Dewey Beach Lifesaving Station for those interested in attending. Charlie's group has been working on a complete Business License fee structure and are confident they can bring a consensus to break the Logjam which has been holding this up.

The Commissioners agree that the fees should be based on what the Cost to the Town is to "regulate" the specific business. No data had been reviewed to determine what "cost" the town incurs to regulate Real estate brokers and agents.

The Commissioners moved to have a Discussion and Vote at the March Council meeting.

There was a discussion to enact an ordinance to have all dogs on a leash and under control at all times while in Dewey Beach. This includes keeping the dogs leashed while on the beach.

There was obviously some candid discussion the topic of "control" of the Dog instead of "Leash and/or Control"

Commissioner Fitzgerald suggested a Dog Committee that Commissioner Eisenhauer will chair.

It was also suggested to hold this off until May or June so Homeowners can voice their opinion. (See "Town Proposals" on the home page to provide your views on this.)

VII. Discussion of the Floor Area Ratio & Height restrictions in the Neighborhood Residential (NR) District.

Currently there is a 35 foot height restriction. There is a possibility that "Mega-Mansions" can be built.

Gordon Elliott gave an update that there will be 2 paving projects coming up in March

There will be some paving on Bayard Street and also at the Circle on Dickinson Street at the Rusty Rudder.

The Budget is on track. We have a total of $4,621,523.82 in Cash and Equivalents .

The Ruddertowne Architectural committee meeting will be Friday, February 16th at 6:00 PM .

The Comprehensive Plan was sent to the IPA (Institute for Public Administration) who in turn sends it to The State of Delaware.

SUMMARY OF DEWEY BEACH TOWN COUNCIL MEETING HELD AT THE LIFESAVING STATION ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2007, AT 9:00 A.M.