By Doug Miller
In effect, no land development may take place now until the owner has filed a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan with the city, which must include, among other things, a description of the site's soil content, the proposed soil disturbance activities, the proposed pollution prevention measures in place, a description of construction and waste materials stored on site, descriptions of erosion prevention measures and a description of where stormwater is expected to go to prevention site pollution, erosion and contamination.
The new ordinances were adopted as required by new federal requirements, City Manager Edwin Eaton said Monday. "It's another unfunded mandate," he said.
The ordinances require that each contractor and subcontractor working in the city be certified under the new guidelines, and gives the city the power to stop construction projects that fall beneath those guidelines.
It also mandates the creation of a stormwater management officer, which in Long Beach will fall to the public works commissioner. "If you see Rob Raab, congratulate him," Eaton said.
The ordinance gives Raab and his deputies the power to conduct scheduled or random site inspections and issue violations based on the new guidelines of up to $10,000, and to require contractors to put up a performance bond or cash escrow to guarantee compliance.
The council also approved the purchase of new ornamental light poles for $57,000. Previous council hearings about this seemingly innocuous purchase revealed the deep fault lines in the city's preservation community. Members of the Long Beach Historical Society and the Long Beach Island Landmarks Association squared off last winter during a hearing on replacing the poles, each accusing the other of betraying the city's heritage.
Tuesday night, all was calm and the measure passed without comment.
Other council news: The council approved spending $810,590 from last year's infrastructure bond for reconstruction of Barnes Street in the Canals neighborhood.
The Council voted to refund $70,000 to settle a tax certiorari claim by Hannah Realty, owner of 39 E. Broadway; and a $50,000 payment to the owners of the Hoffman Manner at 275 West Boardwalk to settle their tax certiorari claim.
Comments about this story? DMiller@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 213.
