OCEAN CITY – The City Council this week laid down the law for street performers on the Boardwalk for this upcoming summer and seasons to come.
According to City Clerk Kathy Mathias, the town had some trouble with street performers on the Boardwalk last summer and some adjustments were necessary.
The town issued 555 street performer permits last season. The police had issues with congestion and pedestrian flow on the Boardwalk. Business owners on the Boardwalk complained about their stores being blocked and emergency personnel had issues with performers not moving during emergency situations.
The police have also received complaints about noise from performers late into the night and even early morning.
During this week’s Mayor and City Council meeting, Mathias and Police Chief Bernadette DiPino presented their recommendation to have 18 specific locations where the street performers can perform. The spaces would be allocated by conducting a daily lottery at Town Hall at a designated time to put their name into a space.
They also recommended a code change to have the performers comply with the noise ordinance so that they would have to end their performance by midnight. Additionally, the performers will be required to take a 15-minute break every 30 minutes as a way to move the crowd along and prevent congestion.
Mathias said that there are many costumed characters that do not actually perform. They stand and wait to take pictures with spectators. She stated that these characters do not meet the test of a true street performer. She recommended the language in the city code be changed to define street performers.
The last recommendation was to increase the permit fee. It is currently $7.50 and the suggestion was to increase it to $10, which would accurately reflect the true cost in issuing a permit.
“Many of the performers are talented and they do have something that enhances the Boardwalk experience for our visitors,” Mathias said. “We just want to make it work.”
Mayor Rick Meehan spoke on additional issues concerning music and lighting.
“I suggested they only have music as part of their performance. If they’re actually performing music or dance, than its relevant,” he said.
Meehan said that there has also been an issue with performers having additional lighting over their performance space.
“I don’t think additional lighting is needed,” he said. “The Boardwalk is already well lit.”
Councilwoman Margaret Pillas said that she would like to see street performer locations removed from the Division Street portion of the Boardwalk due to the street’s public safety access. She said that it becomes too congested and potentially blocks emergency personnel from accessing the Boardwalk and the beach.
“The more you start eliminating without providing additional spaces that is when you are going to get into a problem,” City Solicitor Guy Ayres said.
Cymek made a motion to approve the recommendations as well as remove Division Street while providing additional spaces and restrict the use of music and lighting unless it is part of their performance.
The council voted to approve the motion in a 5-1 vote with Councilman Joe Hall in opposition and Council President Jim Hall absent.