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MARCH 1, 2006

[The photo above of the "Stove-top Stufing" house on Queen Street was depicted in the Washington Post article referenced below.] 

WEBSITE DOWN

Our apologies!  Our website and our ability to send eMails were suspended for about a week recently.  The good news is we’re up and running again.  We’re still trying to determine what happened and put safeguards in place to prevent a recurrence.  Thanks for your patience during the inconvenience.

BOARD MEETING

We had a great Board meeting on February 18th.  While our Minutes will be published soon (in the Members area), we were delighted with the Cape Gazette coverage.  You can view a copy of the article here.  http://www.capegazette.com/storiescurrent/0106/rehobiz022106.html

SUSSEX STREET REZONING

The Mayor and Board of Commissioners adopted a resolution to hold a public hearing on the question of rezoning certain properties on Sussex Street from commercial to residential at its February 21st regular meeting.  The audience voiced opinions on both sides of the issue.  At least one Commissioner seemed to suggest that the process would lead directly to rezoning Sussex Street.  It took Stan Mills, former RBHA President, to clarify that the matter was not a “done deal” but rather a proposal to hold a public discussion, i.e., consideration of the issue that would lead to a decision.  Commissioner Gossett quoted from the CDP verifying Mills’ assertion.

In the September 2003 RBHA Newsletter we reported that the Commissioners adopted the City’s CDP with language changes addressing this point.  Language stating that specific areas “will be rezoned” was changed to read that the rezonings “will be pursued.”  We went on to report that Delaware State Law mandates that a land-use change incorporated into an adopted CDP is not automatically implemented and there is no guarantee that the land-use change will ever become law.  Then-City Solicitor Walter W. Speakman, Jr. described the following scenarios, “If the Commissioners decide to implement a specific land-use change, then they will follow the current process for rezoning—public notice, public hearing(s) and then a vote by the commissioners.  If the vote is in favor of rezoning, the land-use change becomes law.  If the vote is against the land-use change, then the CDP will have to be amended to reflect that that specific land-use change will not be implemented.”

The public hearing is scheduled for April 17, 2006; affected residents on Sussex Street will receive further information and commenters can write or eMail the city with their views.

CITY BUDGET

The City held its third budget meeting on Friday, February 24th.  Here are some highlights

TAX INCREASE – Although there is one more city Budget meeting scheduled (March 10, 2006), the Mayor and Commissioners seem poised to increase property taxes by 11%, from $1.40/$100 assessed valuation to $1.55/$100.  The Budget will be discussed (and very likely adopted) at the March 20th regular meeting.  An article about the tax increase can be viewed here.  http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/26/AR2006022601198.html?referrer=emailarticle

OTHER ISSUES – Two other items of potential interest came up.  There was some discussion about multi-year budget planning.  This is a good thing!  Within that discussion there was talk about costs associated with changes in the disposal of the city’s waste water, which currently goes into the canal.  The City must decide on one of several options to alter its current process; the US EPA has issued an order requiring the action by 2014.  The city received a consultant’s report recently making recommendations.  It will likely act on the matter in the foreseeable future.  This is a good thing, too!  However, there was much tiptoeing around the issue and what sounded like people speaking in code??  There was reference to Bob Stickles, the Sussex County Administrator.  And it sounded like one option—ocean disposal—had already been chosen.  Why?  What does the county have to do with the city’s decision?  Is the county going to help with the expense?  What is the quid pro quo?  Will there be pipes running from Seaford and Laurel to the ocean, too?  This is a very complex issue; it’s as dry as day-old toast.  But, it’s a very expensive issue—and that’s not just dollars.  You should pay attention to this one.

The other item concerns plans for a new City Hall.  In the interest of full disclosure, it should be noted that I (Hoyte Decker) introduced this topic.  Here is some background. 

At the December 19th 2005, Board of Commissioners meeting City Manager Greg Ferrese announced that the Rehoboth Beach would soon begin “master planning for City offices.”  Shortly thereafter I wrote the Mayor and Commissioners encouraging them to think beyond the immediate space needs for City Hall and its employees.  I suggested that they consider a complex that would not only address the demands for an expanded City Hall but could also feature an updated Convention Center with adequate parking.  I will note here that this is not my idea; many people including Commissioner McGuiness, have long promoted the concept.  I want to emphasize that I was only asking that the Board of Commissioners consider the idea.  I received what I believe was positive feedback from three Commissioners. 

Subsequently, my letter appeared in the Cape Gazette; a copy can be seen here.  I received numerous positive comments from individuals, both residents and business people.  I also spoke to representatives of the Chamber of Commerce and Main Street.  They too were supportive.  My letter was the subject of discussion at a Save Our City meeting and I was informed that the organization was eager to talk with me and the Commissioners further about the project.  To my knowledge there has been no public discussion by Board of Commissioners about the matter.  So I asked WHY?

A Request for Proposals (RFP) was issued on February 22nd.  It’s more interesting for what’s not in than what is!  It explicitly states “this project will include no modifications to the Convention Center . . .”  I must conclude that the matter was considered and the concept rejected. 

The Mayor led responses to my question.  He stressed that the need for updated space was acute.  Among other things, he suggested that it might be more appropriate to consider relocating the Convention Center elsewhere.  If not explicit, the implication was that it might mean moving the Convention Center out of town.  Others expressed seeming surprise about what was in (not in) the RFP.  Still others had specific suggestions about how the matter might be considered.  City Manager Ferrese indicated that the nature of consultant relationships would permit broader discussions and consideration of such concepts. 

The bottom line:  Pay attention to this one, too!

WORKSHOP CANCELLED

The March 6, 2006 Board of Commissioners Workshop has been cancelled due lack of agenda items.

FEEDBACK

We are getting more and more feedback from you.  That’s great!  For this reason it’s even more regrettable that the website went down.  The issues we’ve raised here may be controversial to you.  If so, let us hear from you.  This organization is all about open communication.  Your opinions count.  We’ll give you the forum to discuss them.  Come to our Board meetings; the next one is March 18th , 9:00 am, at the All Saints Episcopal Church at 18 Olive Street.  Or, we’ll let you write an article in the next Newsletter [the deadline is early April, 750 word limit and subject to editing (not content, style & grammar!)].

PAST NEWS FROM THE RBHA

Click on the Date below for prior editions of News from the RBHA.