Beach Safety Advisory Comittee

CITY OF CAPE MAY CAPE MAY BEACH SAFETY COMMITTEE Meeting Minutes COMMITTEE MEETING: November 22nd @ 4:00pm LOCATION: Auditorium Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag Roll Call In attendance: 1. Steven J. Steger, Jr-Citizen, Chairman 2. Christine N. DiDonato-Citizen/Secretary 3. Lorraine Baldwin, Council Liaison 4. Harry Back-Citizen, Supervisor of Beaches 5. Joseph Piccard-Director, Public Works 6. Sara Werner-CMBP Beach Patrol, Lieutenant 7. Alex Coulter-Fire Chief 8. Steven J. Steger Jr-Citizen, Chairman In abstention: • Dr. McCoy • Chad DeSatnick-Citizen Minutes for October 23rd meeting entered into record for approval • Motion to approve: Steven Steger • 2nd: Harry Back • Approved October Minutes will be posted. CMBSC: Positions (2) • Tom Medvecky read letter of interest for CMBSC position. o Unanimous decision to submit letter for approval by the Mayor • 2nd position still posted and available. Suggestion made for Mark DeBlosio Beach Injury Report • Chief Coulter read Injury Report for 2021 which included The Promenade. August had the highest number of injuries and seemed to be more often at the East end of town. • Chief Coulter and Harry Back discussed the need for the Fire Department and the Beach Patrol’s Injury Report forms to mirror one another. This will allow information collected by each department in order that the collected data is thorough and commensurate. • The 2022 Incident Report will include “where on beach, weather conditions, tide(high/low) among others”. Chad DeSatnick’s written statement: “My only comment in advance is that beach safety committee should be focusing on the surf zone as the number one goal, current administration should be making a priority and continuing the urgency that Lorraine has started. Also, it is my understanding that Atlantic City Electric was not allowing wired systems for the PA, but the city may have different information.” PA System: “State of Affairs” • Kasey Rattigan, Director of Convention Hall and Recreation Activities and Leo Garrison, Senior Designer for Metro Sound Pro’s were kind to join us by invitation to update on the PA System. • Overview by Leo Garrison, audio engineer at Metro Sound Pros: o We completed the original first phase Public Announcement and Background audio system back in 2018. This system was designed to cover south of Convention Center. A phase 2 was also coordinated for the North of the Convention Center also at that time. This system encompassed around seventeen thousand feet of coverage. The systems design is just for Public and Safety Announcements to Wilmington Ave. There was no request during the original design phase to install Background audio. Our scope for phase two was to provide approximately twenty-four poles with audio horns on them. The system will be hardwired back to the Convention Center. The systems sources would be universal when completed for both the north and south side. • PA System runs from Kearney to the Cove with the challenge of extending the PA System down through Wilmington. PA key piece for 14,000ft span. • 2 Part Modular Design: Phase 1: ▪ Public Address system with consideration for wind, noise, humidity, distance from H2O to speakers, aesthetics ▪ Discussed wireless- Seaside had a class action b/c the wireless didn’t work Phase 2 ▪ Same concept to expand from Convention to Wilmington ▪ Background ambiance for music, (Approved in Phase 1) ▪ Design=Horns on top of Convention Hall from North to East facing out towards N&E to cover where system stops. A single line needed due to reverberation ▪ Do have the ability to go further South from Wilmington *There may be some minor equipment changes but (per Leo) they will be same equipment implemented last year Considerations of Phase Work: Info and Logistics/Needs and Capability Info and Logistics Needs and Capabilities How does the wiring hold up? Geofencing-people w/in boundaries of CM can be notified of weather Are we considering where the rockpile is and how Wifi/Bluetooth--can’t use b/c of power unless gets deep? dedicated frequency? Where will the pipe run along the beach/street? Does system have ability to pre-recorded messages? Yes  How to work around the stairs of certain beach Sign-up for code alerts thru text, Apple watch, email, entrances etc Time Frame ▪ Unlikely to be ready for Summer 2022 ▪ Looking towards 2023 Beach Slope ▪ Beach slope has changed in the last years. ▪ Lorraine had conversation with Jeff Van Drew office; Data and Federal information has been communicated. ▪ Thought is that the Infrastructure Bill Supports sustainability. Lorraine will update ▪ Environmental Engineer to be considered. ▪ Surf Rider Foundation, South Jersey o Dr. Robert Young collected data for all beach replenished towns. Very experienced. We would like to hear him speak. ▪ Army Corps of Engineers will be local for the next 2 months. Harry Back to request their presence at December meeting. ▪ Do we have drone footage? Affirmative. Where and can we see it? ▪ Do we know anyone with FCC Clearance? Affirmative. ▪ Are there other groups who can give a 2nd opinion? Possibly the DEP. ▪ Steve Steger to acquire March 6, 2020 notes; will share with group. Check with Chad. Educating the Public re: Beach Slope ▪ CM and West Cape May Super Intendent supports working with the CMBSC ▪ Message needs to be duplicated on many different platforms. ▪ Create talking points that cohesively support our message. ▪ Next: Meet w/ previous guards/educators to give an overview of previously accomplished work so we can make a plan. ▪ Timeframe and Plan- should be in place by December meeting. Action • Harry to reach out to Army Corp for next meeting • We need to see old brochures-Chad? Harry? • Meet w/ previous guards/educators to give an overview of previously accomplished work so we can make a plan. Public Portion Adjournment