Ocean City Mayor and City Council Regular Meeting - March 16, 2026
Ocean City Mayor and City Council Regular Meeting - March 16, 2026
The meeting was called to order at 6:00 PM on Monday, March 16, 2026, and adjourned at 7:35 PM. The agenda included a proclamation, consent calendar items, the Ocean City Police Department annual report, several ordinance readings, and public comment. Key votes and discussion items are summarized below.
Consent Calendar
- Approved minutes of the March 10, 2026 work session.
- Acknowledged standing committee minutes from Police Commission (March 9), Tourism Commission (March 9), Transportation Committee (March 10, including a recommendation), and Green Team (March 11).
- Approved private event request for Summer Sports Safari (S3 Festival) on June 27-28, 2026.
- Approved private event request for American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer on October 24, 2026.
- Transportation Committee recommendation: Expand approved bus advertisers to all Maryland casinos (previously limited to Ocean Downs). This recommendation was voted as part of the consent agenda. Vote: 5 in favor, 1 opposed (Councilmember Garrick). Garrick explained his opposition on grounds that the town should not promote competing destinations.
Public Comments & Testimony
- On Ordinance 2026-01 (Comprehensive Plan): A public speaker (Mr. Gizrael, name unclear) opposed the use of the phrase "adverse impact" in reference to short-term rentals, saying it creates a negative tone, and proposed removing it. Another speaker, Terry Miller, agreed and also expressed concern about potential zoning changes that could restrict short-term rentals.
- On Ordinance 2026-08 (Zoning Setbacks): Jeff (last name not given), an owner and designer with property in LC1, expressed concerns about unintended consequences, including encouragement of large condominiums and negative impact on small lots. He suggested applying the change only to Coastal Highway and Philadelphia Avenue, reducing the setback to 15 feet, and not allowing porches in the setback. Rick Scholkoff, an architect, argued the ordinance is arbitrary, would reduce property values, and is inconsistent with neighboring R3 districts (which allow 10-foot setbacks).
Discussion Items
- Ocean City Police Department 2025 Annual Report: Police Chief Ray Austin presented the report. Highlights included: community engagement (National Night Out, Coffee with a Cop, etc.), technology upgrades (body-worn cameras upgraded, license plate readers replaced via $100,000 grant, Zero Eyes AI gun detection, drone program with 245 missions and 45+ flight hours), patrol initiatives (J1 student safety, bike light distribution, homeless outreach), K-9 unit expansion (explosive detection, bloodhound, internal trainer certification), investigative results (134 cases, 93% closure rate, 4 drug trafficking organizations dismantled, $346,000 seized), fiscal responsibility ($28 million budget, $640,000 in savings, over $300,000 in grants), recruiting (13 trips to 7 states, 50+ universities, aim to increase public safety officers from 60 to 80), and overall reported crime decrease of 37.65% compared to 2024 (first three-year NIBERS trend). Arrests: 1,059 custodial arrests, 43 criminal citations, 331 civil citations. Mayor commended the department for approachability and respect from the public.
- Ordinance 2026-01 - Second Reading (Adopt 2025 Comprehensive Plan): The city solicitor moved adoption. After public comment, council voted. Result: motion carried 5-1 (Councilmember Proctor opposed, citing his objection to "adverse impact" language).
- Ordinance 2026-07 - Second Reading (Alley Abandonment): To abandon and convey a 16'x50' portion of alley between 26th and 27th Streets. Vote: 6 in favor, unanimous.
- Ordinance 2026-08 - Second Reading (Zoning Amendments for Setbacks in LC1 and SC1): Proposed to increase front yard setback from 10 to 20 feet and rear yard from 10 to 15 feet for residential developments in LC1 and SC1 districts. Extensive council discussion ensued. Some members (e.g., Councilmember Garrick and Councilmember Proctor) argued the premise promoted earlier (that residential development in commercial should follow residential setbacks) was misstated because R2 and R3 setbacks are 10 feet, not 20. The mayor and planning director clarified that the change is specific to LC1/SC1 and intended for large commercial parcels to encourage more green space. After debate, vote: 4 in favor (Savage motion, Matrisic second), 2 opposed (Councilmembers James and Garriga). The ordinance passed second reading.
- Ordinance 2026-09 - First Reading (Clarify Citation Authority): Amends chapter 1.8 to allow law enforcement to issue citations for misdemeanor local ordinance violations that previously required arrest due to state law limits. City solicitor explained the need following increased penalties. Vote: unanimous (6 in favor).
- Resolution 2026-08 - Disposition of Surplus Personal Property: Authorizes sale or disposal of surplus property. Vote: unanimous (6 in favor).
Key Outcomes
- Consent calendar adopted with traffic committee recommendation passing 5-1.
- Comprehensive plan adopted 5-1.
- Alley abandonment approved 6-0.
- Zoning setback amendments for LC1/SC1 adopted 4-2.
- Citation authority ordinance passed first reading 6-0.
- Surplus property resolution adopted 6-0.
- City manager announced a work session on March 24, 2026, starting with closed session at noon, including retirement recognition, state highway administration update, and other items.
Meeting Transcript
All right, good evening, everyone. Welcome to this mayor and city council meeting scheduled for Monday, March 16th, 2026 at 6 p.m. First, I'll ask Councilmember Garrick to lead us in the prayer and pledge. Father God, we're grateful to have another chance to live and work and serve in Ocean City, Maryland. Grateful for the gathering again this evening. We asked for your presence here tonight, guide our thoughts and words and actions. Help us to be a blessing to you. And across the world, we ask that you bless our troops and protect all who are innocent. And as we go our separate ways, help us to have a mind to help and serve others who are struggling and sick and be a blessing to you and always live in Jesus' name. Amen. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God. Liberty and justice for all the questions we have items presented by the Mayor and City Council. Mr. Mayor, we have a proclamation recognizing Greek Independence Day on March 25th, 2026. I do, thank you, Mr. President. Father, would you like to uh join me up here? And whoever you'd like to bring up from your congregation if you'd like them to join us. We're all here. Good evening. Good evening, everybody. Good evening. Good evening. Welcome. Welcome. Welcome. Welcome. Welcome. Thank you. Welcome. That's really good. So, Father, if you would like to come over here. And uh this is a great opportunity for us, and we're very proud of all of our churches in Ocean City and all those congregations that serve our community, our residents, our visitors, and certainly help all those that are in need in Ocean City. And uh, we're very fortunate to have a terrific community of churches here in Ocean City. And to hear tonight, we're here to recognize Greek Independence Day. And I have members of uh the Greek church here with me this evening, and I'm gonna let Father speak after I read this proclamation. And it's a proclamation and it states, whereas March twenty-fifth, in March 25th, 1821, the people of Greece began their historic historic struggle for independence from the Ottoman Empire, launching a revolution that ultimately led to the establishment of a free and sovereign Greek nation. Whereas Greek Independence Day commemorates the courage, determination, and sacrifices of the Greece Greek people who fought for liberty, self-determination, and democratic ideals. Whereas the town of Ocean City proudly recognizes the influence of the Greek heritage within our own community, where Greek families and entrepreneurs have played an important role in shaping the local hospitality industry, supporting small businesses, and celebrating to welcome to the welcoming spirit that defines Ocean City. Whereas Ocean City joins communities throughout the nation in celebrating Greek heritage and recognize the enduring legacy of Greek independence and its importance to the global history of democracy. Now therefore, I Rick Meehan, the mayor of the town of Ocean City, along with our city council and our citizens of this community to hereby proclaim March 25th as Greek Independence Day in Ocean City, Maryland, and encourage all residents and visitors to recognize and celebrate the rich heritage, culture, and contributions of the Greek people. Like the let's get them around. Okay. The mic is yours. Mr. Mayor, Council President, City Council, and to uh the fellow citizens of Ocean City. We're grateful for this acknowledgement, Mr. May. We thank you.
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