OCEAN CITY – This week’s Mayor and City Council work session covered several ongoing topics, including the approval of the tourism strategic plan, a vendor for a new parking mobile phone app and a new vehicle vendor.
Strategic Plan Approved
Tourism and Marketing Director Donna Abbott presented the Mayor and City Council the final draft of the Tourism Strategic Plan for approval.
Abbott explained a strategic plan specifically for tourism has been prepared by consultant Lyle Sumek to assist the Tourism Commission and the Tourism Department with a five-year plan for tourism and a one year action agenda/work program.
The development of a strategic plan for tourism was a top priority of the Mayor and Council’s policy agenda in 2014. The process started over a year ago as Sumek interviewed members of the Tourism Commission and stakeholders in the business community. He facilitated sessions with the Tourism Commission and staff to develop the tourism strategic plan.
The Tourism Strategic Plan lists the top priority action items for this year are to develop a tourism marketing plan; plan the third expansion of the Roland E. Powell Convention Center now that the second phase and new performing arts center has been completed; state tourism dollar advocacy; tourist data collection system/media purchase evaluation report; advocacy to have students return to school after Labor Day; and redevelopment of the “model block” downtown where properties, such as the former Beach Patrol headquarters, will be demolished.
High priority action items for this year include expansion of the Halloween events; sports tournaments expansion on strategy and action plan; a New York/New Jersey marketing program; continue to educate on the town’s new smoking policy on the beach and Boardwalk; and a report on Northside Park.
Moderate priority action items for this year are maintenance of the 3rd/4th Street public parking lot and beach areas, Boardwalk enhancements and expansion of events.
The Mayor and City Council voted unanimously to approve the Tourism Strategic Plan.
To view the entire Tourism Strategic Plan that includes tourism goals moving into 2020 and 2030 visit the Town of Ocean City’s website at www.oceancitymd.gov.
Pay-by-Phone Parking App Vendor Selected
According to Procurement Manager Catrice Parsons, on March 10 the Transportation Committee voted to solicit pay-for-parking mobile application proposals for implementation by May 25.
The request for proposal was created and sent to vendors, posted on the town’s website and on eMaryland Marketplace on March 19.
Two proposals were received and an evaluation was held on April 10. The evaluation committee evaluated factors such as vendor’s ability to meet the implementation deadline; vendor experience; quality, durability, warranty, and reliability of the product/brand; customer service and support; training; vendor’s market and social media presence; marketing campaign; ability to integrate with existing enforcement and meter software and hardware; pricing; technology and administrative support; and value added services.
Parsons recommended the council award the contract to Paymobile, who already has over 1.3 million users and can provide its own marketing that will share the news that Ocean City will be on board this summer. There is an estimated $10,000 decrease in expense and $4,000 in revenue estimated in one year.
The Mayor and City Council voted unanimously to reward the contract to Parkmobile until Dec. 31, 2016.
Vehicle Franchise Awarded
According to City Clerk Kelly Allmond, two Vehicle Vending Franchise bids were received at the April 1 work session.
The first was from Georgeo’s Water Ice, Inc. for the amount of $32,100 and the second was from Hamilton Vending for the amount of $33,930. The council acknowledged the apparent highest bid from Hamilton Vending and remanded the bids to staff for review.
Allmond furthered, both vendors were evaluated for credit worthiness, quality and service of product, the annual bid amount and refrigeration plan. Georgeo’s scored the highest overall.
Allmond explained George Swayngim of Georgeo’s began his frozen treat business as a mobile vendor in 1980. For 30 years, the Swayngim family have owned and operated frozen dessert distribution warehouses in Pennsylvania and Selbyville, Del.
Allmond recommended awarding the four-year vehicle vending franchise to Georgeo’s Water Ice for the amount of $32,100 per year. Georgeo’s Water Ice was previously the long applicant during a previous bid effort in February, but the council rejected it due to officials wanting to rework the franchise language to seek a broader vendor base, such as snow cones.
The Mayor and City Council voted unanimously to approve Georgeo’s.