Mayor and City Council Regular Meeting - May 4, 2026
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Mayor and City Council Regular Meeting - May 4, 2026
The Mayor and City Council of Ocean City, Maryland, held a regular meeting on Monday, May 4, 2026, at 6:00 PM, with a brief delay due to technical difficulties. Presided over by Council President, the meeting included proclamations, a consent agenda, a public hearing on the FY2027 real property tax rate, the adoption of multiple ordinances and resolutions, and public comments. Councilmember Gehrig was absent for the entire meeting.
Consent Calendar
- All items A through E were approved unanimously (4-0, with Gehrig absent). These included: acknowledgment of standing committee draft agendas (Police Commission, Tourism Commission, Transportation Committee, Recreation and Parks Committee, Green Team, Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee); and private event approvals for the Ocean City Pride Parade (June 27), USSSA Week 2 Opening Ceremony (July 21), Jesus at the Beach Music & Ministry Festival (July 27-29), and OC Beach Classic (October 10-11).
Public Hearings
A public hearing was held on the Fiscal Year 2027 Proposed Real Property Tax Rate. The proposed rate is $.4326 per $100 of assessed value, which is $0.01 lower than the FY2026 rate, and would increase real property tax revenues by $4,582,889. Two residents spoke: John Adkins (8802 Caribbean Drive) praised the city’s services but noted issues with county meetings; William Murphy (102 12th Street) attempted to discuss rental inspections and occupancy rules but was advised the hearing was only for the tax rate. The hearing was opened and closed unanimously (4-0).
Public Comments & Testimony
Three residents spoke during the public comment period:
- Sean Atkins (8802 Caribbean Drive) shared personal experiences with bicycling to work, reported a dangerous motorized scooter incident on Route 90, and suggested adding larger signs at crosswalks to remind pedestrians to push the button for signal activation.
- Andrew Sanderson (13604 North Ocean Road, Unit 23) appeared for the fourth time requesting that full-time residents with valid Ocean City driver’s licenses be allowed to purchase bus passes. He stated a poll of 50 residents aged 16-59 showed 100% would pay between $75 and $125 (citing $150 for his family), and argued it would increase revenue and help retain bus drivers. He had not received a response from staff despite previous requests.
- Scott Chismore (210 Worcester Street) thanked the city for Ocean City University, expressed concerns about a church across the street that may host individuals not following rules (referencing a past fatality), voiced concerns about the new pedicab franchise potentially using downtown streets as waiting areas, and promoted the “Beach Heroes” cleanup event on May 5.
Discussion Items
- Proclamations (adopted): Bike to Work Week (May 11-17) and Bike to Work Day (May 15) were proclaimed, with Sergeant Coots (BPAC president) and Council Secretary Will Savage present. National Hurricane Preparedness Week (May 3-9) was proclaimed, with Amanda from emergency services noting a predicted below-average hurricane season but above-average water temperatures.
- Ordinances and Resolutions (all passed 4-0): The city solicitor presented eight items, all adopted unanimously:
- Second Reading: Ordinance 2026-10 (amend Chapter 66, Signs; clarifies banners, fence signs, temporary signs); Ordinance 2026-11 (amend Chapter 110, Zoning; outdoor merchandise displays on Boardwalk, feather/teardrop flags); Ordinance 2026-12 (amend General Employees’ Pension Plan; permit late retirement factors); Ordinance 2026-13 (amend Chapter 110, Zoning; clarifies yard setback requirements for lots 5,000 SF or greater); Ordinance 2026-14 (amend Chapter 106, Beach Regulations; increases canopy footprint to 15’x15’).
- First Reading: Ordinance 2026-15 (adopt FY2027 Operating Budget); Ordinance 2026-16 (amend Chapter 39, Franchises; establishes Boardwalk pedicab franchise).
- Resolution 2026-13 (grant franchise for food/beverage/merchandise for Ocean City Air Show to OC Air Show, LLC); Resolution 2026-14 (authorize disposition of surplus personal property).
- City Manager Comments: The May 12 work session agenda includes a closed session for legal matters, certification of the 2026 special election results, and an oath of office for newly elected officials. Also on the agenda: update on short-term rental enforcement, business license application revisions, and a proposed amendment to the property maintenance code to allow occupancy up to 4 in studios and condos (addressing concerns raised by Mr. Murphy). The manager also apologized for not responding to Mr. Sanderson and noted free bus service to the polls on election day.
Key Outcomes
- All consent agenda items, ordinances, and resolutions were approved with 4 votes in favor (Councilmember Gehrig absent).
- The public hearing on the tax rate was held; the adoption on second reading is scheduled for May 18.
- Mayor Meehan responded to Mr. Sanderson’s bus pass request, stating the Transportation Committee did not recommend the pass due to cost (nearly double the $150 figure cited by Sanderson) and concluded that the $4 all-day fare is a better value. The mayor apologized for the lack of personal communication.
- The mayor recognized the recent passing of Ward Kovacs (Ocean City Beach Patrol) and Mike Todd Sr. (Ocean City Volunteer Fire Company).
- A special election will be held on May 8, 2026, to fill two council seats; five candidates are running (Tony DeSanctus added to the previously mentioned four).
- The meeting adjourned at 7:10 PM.
Meeting Transcript
All right, good evening, everyone. Uh first I'd like to apologize for the delay. We had some technical difficulties. Thank you all for being patient. Today is Monday, May 4th, 2026, and this is a regular meeting of the Mayor and City Council being held just after 6 p.m. First on the agenda, I'll turn it over to Councilmember Metressic for the prayer and the pledge. Lord, we thank you for another day to come and serve your people. We thank you for the ability to live in such a beautiful place. And we thank you for all the people that make this place great from our public works to our public safety. We thank you for uh their hard work in keeping our town safe and clean, and we thank you all of all of our staff for getting us through uh weekends like this. Uh amen. Flood legends. And through the republic for which it stands one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice all. Next on the agenda, uh I'll turn it over to the mayor. We have a proclamation recognizing bike to work week, May 11th through the 17th, 2026, and bike to work day on May 15th. Sergeant Coots, would you like to join me? Councilman, you want to join us, too? Sure. I've asked uh Sergeant Cooks to join me up here. He is uh Chairman, uh the president of BPAC, president of BCAP BPAC uh, and also Council Secretary Will Savage, who's our uh council member that sits on that board as well, correct? So I think it's important that they're here with us. And really, this board, BPAC does an awful lot, puts an awful lot of time and effort into promoting bike safety and the ability to transverse our community using bikes. And I think we've come a long way. I think uh it's a community effort, it's a very active committee. There's quite a few people on the committee, and I think they're very dedicated to this particular issue. So I think it's important that we recognize them, and uh we recognize bike to work week, which I think is maybe the catalyst for a lot of what's being done here in Ocean City. So I'm gonna go ahead and read this and I'll see if the sergeant would like to say anything today. Uh and it says proclamation, bike to work week, May 7th, May 11th through 17th. And it states, whereas communities across the nation celebrate bike to work week as an opportunity to promote bicycling as a healthy, economical and environmentally friendly mode of transportation. Whereas bicycling reduces traffic congestion, improves air quality, and contributes to a more sustainable and livable community. Whereas bike to work week encourages residents, visitors, and employees to consider alternative transportation options and to incorporate physical activity into their daily routines. Whereas the town of Ocean City supports initiatives that promote wellness, environmental stewardship, and safe transportation choices. Whereas safety of all who share our roadways, motorists, bicyclists, pedestrians alike, is a top safety priority. And bicyclists are reminded to obey all traffic laws, signals, and signage, and remain visible and alert while traveling, which is extremely important in Ocean City. Whereas bike to work day, observed on Friday, May 15, 2026, serves as a local point of the week, inspiring individuals to experience the many benefits of bike bicycling firsthand. Now, therefore, I Rick Me in the mayor of the town of Ocean City, along with our city council to hereby proclaim May 11th through 17th, 2026 as bike to work week. Sergeant, would you like to make any comments? Uh just thank you for your support, Mayor and City Council as president of BPAC. We appreciate that. Uh and this uh bike to work week and bike to work day fits in perfectly with human resources coast to coast programming for exercising, so it all coincides. So thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Appreciate it very much. All right, next we have a proclamation recognizing May 3rd through the 9th as National Hurricane Preparedness Week. No here. Oh, Amanda. Good. Okay.
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