By DONALD WITTKOWSKI
City Council approved a five-year, $53.1 million capital plan that is dominated by a series of flood-mitigation projects designed to protect Sea Isle City’s low-lying neighborhoods from stormwater.
In separate votes at a meeting Tuesday, Council introduced two bond ordinances to finance the projects in the first year of the capital plan and to provide extra funding for the city’s proposed community recreation center.
Mayor Leonard Desiderio noted that the capital plan was reviewed at a public workshop in December and includes the projects “that the city should advance this coming year.”
“Our ongoing planning process for capital improvements has served us well for many years, allowing us to properly maintain our public assets and infrastructure within a manageable budgetary framework,” Desiderio said in a statement.
One of the bond ordinances includes $11.6 million in funding for a series of construction projects throughout town, but mainly focuses on the city’s efforts to reduce flooding in vulnerable neighborhoods by building stormwater pumping stations.
Pumping stations intercept floodwater and channel it back into the bay much faster than it would normally take to drain off the streets after a coastal storm. They have proved effective in Ocean City, Avalon and other shore communities exposed to flooding.
Flooding unleashed by Tuesday night's powerful storm once again underscored the importance of Sea Isle's flood-control efforts.
Sea Isle built its first pumping station in 2019 in the flood-prone area at the bay end of 38th Street and Sounds Avenue and will next shift its focus on sections of Landis Avenue that are hit by stormwater.
The city's first stormwater pumping station, largely hidden underground, helps to protect a flood-prone area at the bay end of 38th Street.
City Business Administrator George Savastano said the first new pumping station in 2024 is planned in the area of 46th Street and Landis Avenue to the bay at an estimated cost of $3 million.
The city also has plans for another pumping station in 2024 at 43rd Street and Landis to the bay at an estimated cost of $2 million, Savastano said.
To help defray the cost of both of those pumping stations, the city is seeking grant money from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Savastano, though, said Sea Isle plans to move forward with the projects even if it is unsuccessful in getting funding from FEMA.
Savastano also said that Sea Isle and Cape May County are discussing the possibility of building new pumping stations in a partnership to share the cost of the projects. Those pumping stations would be in drainage areas controlled by the county.
In the longer term, as many as eight pumping stations are being considered along the Landis Avenue artery from 30th Street to 57th Street, Savastano said.
According to the capital plan, the city would spend $5 million on pumping stations in 2024, $3.5 million in 2025, $5.5 million in 2026, $3.5 million in 2027 and $2.5 million in 2028 for a total of $20 million. Funding would need to be approved later for pumping stations built in 2025, 2026, 2027 and 2028.
Combined with road and drainage improvements, pumping station projects are the centerpiece of Sea Isle’s long-term strategy to fight flooding in low-lying neighborhoods.
Road projects are also part of the city's efforts to fight flooding.
Meanwhile, the second bond ordinance introduced by Council on Tuesday includes $2.2 million in funding to help pay for the city’s proposed $21 million community recreation center.
In 2022, Council approved a $20 million bond ordinance to cover what was then the estimated cost of the community center while the project was still in the design and planning stages.
On Dec. 21, the city opened competitive bids for the project and the lowest bid came in at $21 million. The new $2.2 million bond ordinance will cover any extra construction and ancillary costs for the community center.
Desiderio said the city plans to award the $21 million construction contract on Feb. 13 to Ernest Bock & Sons of Philadelphia. Bock submitted the lowest competitive bid among five companies that sought the contract.
“We’ve had preliminary discussions with representatives of Ernest Bock & Sons, and they look forward to working with the city once the project is awarded,” Desiderio said.
Barring any last-minute delays, Bock is expected to get the go-ahead from the city to begin construction in March. Desiderio has estimated that it may take 2-2½ years to complete the community center, which would push the grand opening into 2026.
“As I stated at our last meeting, this will be an exciting undertaking for our city, and it is a great example of how we accomplish outstanding results when we work together,” he said of the project.
Artist's rendering of the proposed $21 million community recreation center. (Rendering courtesy of Sea Isle City)
The city demolished the old public school on Park Road in 2023 to make room for construction of the community center. The entire site is bordered by Park Road, Central Avenue, 45th Street and 46th Street.
The building’s design reflects its dual role as a community center and recreation facility. There will be a large gymnasium, indoor walkway and workout space for recreation. The building will also include space that local community groups may use for meetings, events and other activities.
