Council to vote on park funds, food licenses

BY CHRISTINE VARNO
Staff Writer

LONG BRANCH -- The city council approved a bond ordinance at last week's council meeting for improvements to property acquired for the creation of a municipal park in the city.

At the April 11 municipal meeting, council members unanimously adopted ordinance 7-06, authorizing the city to bond an additional $1.3 million for the Manahassett Creek Park project.

The funds will be used to improve the future site of the park, which will sit on roughly 21 acres of land in the northern part of the city, according to City Financial Director Ronald Mehlhorn Sr.

The site is bordered to the north by Manahassett Creek, to the south by Hairsdale Avenue, to the east by Long Branch Avenue and to the west by Narragansett Avenue.

According to the ordinance, which was introduced at the March 14 municipal meeting, the bonds are to be issued for "improvements to property acquired for the creation of a municipal park, to include, but not limited to, creation of utility sports fields, landscaping, irrigation and drainage and including all work and materials necessary."

The bonded $1.3 million will be used to fund the first phase of the project, which will include the construction of softball, baseball, soccer and football fields along with a parking lot, a fitness trail and a buffer zone to isolate the park from the surrounding neighborhood, according to Jacob L. Jones, director of Community and Economic Development.

The final site plans for the project are expected to be finalized by D.W. Smith Associates, Lakewood, this month, according to Jones, who said once the plans are complete the city will go out for bid on the project.

The first phase is expected to be complete within six months to one year from the start of the project, Jones said.

The second and third phases will include concession stands, basketball and tennis courts, a handball wall and possibly a launch dock on the marina of the shoreline if the city acquires the needed funding, according to Jones.

The council also adopted ordinance 10-06, amending subsection M. of section 116-5 of the code of the city to prohibit persons from bringing or consuming alcoholic beverages on the public beaches, adjacent waters or on the boardwalk and promenade in the city.

According to the ordinance, "It has been recommended by Kevin Hayes, city development coordinator, that said paragraph should be changed to add 'except as permitted by ordinances 181-15 and 247-4.'”

The council introduced ordinance 11-06, amending ordinance 181-15 that prohibits food, liquor or other beverages from being served on any public street, sidewalk or alleyway without first obtaining a license from the city clerk.

Ordinance 11-06 states that the boardwalk and promenade areas will be added to the ordinance and now also require a license from the city before food, liquor or other beverages are served.

The public hearing and adoption of the ordinances is scheduled for the April 25 meeting at 8 p.m.