As part of the City’s responsibility to maintain our beaches, we have an agreement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection that includes restrictions for the protection of threatened and endangered species. This is primarily for certain shorebirds that nest on our beaches, as well as some forms of plant life. That agreement prohibits pets on the beach from March 15 to September 30.
In discussion with the environmental agencies last week, we were able to have the restriction amended to prohibit pets from May 1 to September 30 on City beaches from 20th to 93rd Street.
The zones from 1st to 20th Street and south of 93rd Street are considered protected areas, and will remain with the March 15 to September 30 pet prohibition. Every year, we discuss these matters with the environmental agencies, and try to strike a balance between the recreational use of the beach by our residents and visitors, and the wildlife that also calls the beach its home.
This is not always an easy or popular situation, but the fact is that we are the chief stewards of our beaches; and the fact is that we also receive millions of dollars in assistance from our state and federal partners to help pay for periodic re-nourishment of our beaches.
I’m grateful to the DEP for exercising common sense in easing the restrictions on pets for the majority of our beaches, to allow them to continue to use that environment until May 1. Yesterday, I directed city staff to ensure that this change to our beach restrictions is noted on our website and media outlets.
It’s now officially spring, and hope does spring eternal as we slowly make our way back from the awful consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. So far, about 50,000 doses of the vaccine have been administered in Cape May County; and as of last week, our county had the lowest number of new COVID-19 cases per capita in New Jersey.
Here in Sea Isle, our Vaccine Registration Assistance Program being handled by our Community Services Department has been very successful – everyone who we’ve assisted has either received the shot or has an appointment to get vaccinated.
In project news, we’ve set the date of Saturday, April 24, for the public presentation on the progress of design for the Community Center planned for the site of the former public school. In the next couple weeks, we’ll put out information about the presentation and how folks will be able to participate, as we expect the meeting will be virtual.
Finally, as always – please remember – we’re one Sea Isle City and together we will be stronger than ever.
Sincerely,
Mayor Leonard C. Desiderio
