OCEAN CITY – With more events coming to the resort, the City Council is moving forward with modifications to its private event fee structure as well as establishing a banner policy and fee structure.
During Tuesday’s Mayor and City Council work session, Private Event Superintendent Frank Miller presented a modification to the private event fee structure.
According to Miller, there has been much discussion about private event fees being too low, especially since the number of private events has increased exponentially. Primary concern resided around the cost of space usage being low in comparison to field booking fees set by the Recreation and Parks Department.
In reviewing costs, it was also noted that many annual private event applications are for non-profit entities, and the basic fees for said events simply do not have enough value. The desire to “support” local non-profit organizations is viable and a new approach to achieve that objective needs to be formulated.
According to Miller, the only increase in fees will be to the Damage/Repair Bond from $100 to $250 and the Public Property Usage Fee per day for a for-profit from $150 to $250.
“The other major element that we are looking at is bringing everything up to a common level in terms of how we apply the fees in relation to for-profit and non-profit organizations that are coming to the town. In terms of private events we have seen an increase in a number of private events coming into Ocean City, and a number of those events are produced by 501(c)3, 501(c)6 or non-profit organizations. So, what we are asking for here is more of a uniform application of fees for for-profit and non-profit while still taking into consideration local non-profit organizations that are based here in Worcester County,” Miller explained.
The draft resolution states, “Private Event Permit Fees apply to all applicants- for-profit and non-profit; General Private Event Application Fee $100; Late Submission Fee if Application is received within 90 days of event $100; Change Fee $50; Damage/Repair Bond $250; Concession Fee $75; Public Property Usage Fee $250 applies per venue/per block/per day as the premium fee from March 16th through October 31st annually; Public Property Usage Fee $15 applies per venue/per block/per day as the basic fee from November 1st through March 15th annually; and Three‐Year Approval Fee $300.”
Next Miller proposed revising the banner policy and fee structure.
Miller submitted, the existing banner policy was written for Baltimore Avenue and the Route 90 Bridge. The Baltimore Ave. banner opportunity was removed from the policy leaving the Route 90 location as the sole option. Two new locations, the Route 50 Bridge and Boardwalk poles, have been identified and used for varying lengths of time.
According to Miller, Boardwalk pole banner locations were originally used by the Air Show in 2008 and are now requested by several entities. Historically, there was no charge for placement or removal but controls need to be considered. Originally identified by Public Works Director Hal Adkins as a usable pole banner location for the White Marlin Open, Route 50 Bridge poles were quickly utilized for the 2013 tall ship visit and the 2014 Air Show. An initial cost for placement of $500 was established, but currently does not cover town costs. The goal is to cover costs incurred by the town and allow Public Works to recoup expenses related to the effort.
The proposed fee structure are Route 90 at the Ocean City Tennis Center $150 per banner per placement with a maximum duration of two weeks; Route 50 Bridge $1,150 for placement of 14 banners with a maximum duration of two weeks; and the Boardwalk $950 for placement of 36 banners at 18-pole locations with one or two banners per pole and a maximum duration of one month.
“This is prime advertising space, so I think the fees are more than worth it,” Councilman Brent Ashley said.
The council voted unanimously to approve the revised banner policy and fee structure to go into effect Jan. 1, 2015.