Home
AboutNewsSupport UsContact UsHome
Search
Register
Sign in
Sustainable Jersey logo

Sustainable Jersey Certification Report

Download PDF Version

This is the Sustainable Jersey Certification Report of Cape May City, a Sustainable Jersey silver certified applicant.

Cape May City was certified on September 17, 2024 with 445 points. Listed below is information regarding Cape May City’s Sustainable Jersey efforts and materials associated with the applicant’s certified actions.

Contact Information

The designated Sustainable Jersey contact for Cape May City is:

Name:Justin Riggs
Title:Deputy City Manager
Address:643 Washington Street
Cape May, NJ 08204
Phone:609-884-9544

Actions Implemented

Each approved action and supporting documentation for which Cape May City was approved for in 2024 appears below. Note: Standards for the actions below may have changed and the documentation listed may no longer satisfy requirements for that action.

  • Arts & Creative Culture

    Establish a Creative Team

    10 Points

    Program Summary: The purpose or role of the Cape May Creative Team is to maintain and utilize a comprehensive inventory and network of artistic, historic, cultural, social, environmental, educational, and recreational programs, services and activities that enhance the quality of life for visitors and citizens of Cape May City and sustainably pave the way for the City’s future. Cape May MAC is a partner organization of the City of Cape May. They could not exist without each other. The MAC’s headquarters at the Emlen Physics Estate is possible through leasing the property from the municipal government. Cape May Stage also owes a lot of it's success to a partnership with City of Cape May by way of a long-term 25-year lease of City property. The long-term lease that started in 2004 (following an initial three-year lease) allowed Cape May Stage to secure funding for much-needed renovations. These two partnerships are mentioned to show how involved the City government is in the success of the Creative Team. Cape May MAC, which was so named as the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts, now uses MAC as it’s slogan to stand for Museum + Arts + Culture. Due to it’s prominence in Cape May for promoting arts and culture, MAC naturally takes a leadership role in the Creative Team. The following pages are from the spring version of MAC’s guide for Cape May’s events that naturally focus on the City’s creative assets. Creative Team Members coordinate their events with one another and MAC and individual member institutions are highlighted throughout. The first pages below here explain how MAC became a partner with municipal government to raise Cape May to its great heights as a cultural and creative, year-round destination. The members of the Creative Team work together to plan, promote, and execute events that highlight the creative assets of Cape May as you can see in the document attached.

    Creative Assets Inventory

    10 Points

    Program Summary: Cape May has long recognized the power of arts, history, and culture in transforming the landscape of the community. The City has adopted a program of public-private partnerships that have infused a progressive growth of Cape May's annual economy into a ten-and-a-half-month economy as opposed to the average 12-week season typical in most seashore resort communities. This program facilitates the leasing of City-owned property on a long-term basis for $1.00 per year with non-profit organizations being responsible for the renovations, operations, and maintenance of the properties. This ensures that the City maintains a nurturing environment by providing the essential physical infrastructure so that fledgling, local, non-profit cultural, arts and historical organizations can flourish while benefiting the taxpayer by reducing costs associated with maintenance of the properties. The City currently has nine (9) such agreements involving Cityowned property and they are listed as follows: Emlen Physick Estate with Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC); Washington Street Mall Information Booth with the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities; Franklin Street School with the Center for Community Arts (CCA), a multicultural education organization whose arts, humanities, and history programs foster creativity, community building, and appreciation for diversity; The former Welcome Center with Cape May Stage; The Nature Center with the New Jersey Audubon Society; The Marine Research Facility with Rutgers University; The Transportation Center/Welcome Center with the Chamber of Commerce of Greater Cape May; Colonial House with the Greater Cape May Historical Society; and Cape Island Tennis Club with the Cape May Tennis Club, Inc. The Cape May City Creative Team members represent most of these organizations and thus the role of each member goes beyond their personal stake in the City's creative assets. Their position represents other volunteers and patrons of each organization, thus bringing community into the creative placemaking process. The Creative Team members meet quarterly. The meetings are informal, and the agenda consists of each organization updating on what they have done, are doing, and have planned, with ultimately a concentration on how each organization can help support the other. The first partner organization listed, the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts and Humanities, referred to as the MAC, takes the lead as the holistic cultural hub for the City of Cape May (please see attachment for more info) and works with the Creative Team and other businesses to create a thorough guide to the arts and cultural experiences available in Cape May. The current inventory is incorporated into the MAC's guides and vice versa as the partner organizations work with the Creative Team members and business leaders to ensure that all assets are utilized and promoted to ensure Cape May stays a year-round destination.

    Creative Placemaking Plan

    10 Points

    Program Summary: The City wrote its fire Creative Placemaking Plan in 2017. It has been utilized in City Planning. It was included as part of the City's Master Plan Reexamination in 2019. The plan itself was updated in 2021 and again in 2024. The plan is awaiting acceptance as a special report of the master plan by resolution of the current city council. The goal of the Creative Placemaking Plan is to identify and facilitate cooperation between organizations and individuals that serve, or are, the various creative assets of Cape May to best ensure there is something for everyone to enjoy in the City. The Creative Placemaking Plan should assist the City with ways to transfer the cooperation among creative assets into collaboration on projects that promote the arts, culture, and environment of Cape May. Cape May has had the goal of being a year-round destination and improving the lives of those who live in Cape May in a variety of ways. The fun, entertainment, dining, shopping, ecotourism, and culture is available for the enjoyment of those who live in Cape May, but also helps to bring tourists to the area over a longer period throughout the year, leading to job creation and further economic opportunities. This basic principle guided the development of the Creative Placemaking Plan, which is to be a pathway to the future to achieve the goals of attracting tourists and retaining them through the year, over the years, and as new residents. A thoughtful plan creating a cultural network or Pedestrian City Trail is a way to achieve Cape May's goal. The citizens of Cape May who lead the city in its goal of creating and maintaining a creative, cultural network are members of the Creative Team. They each hold an important role in one of the main creative assets of the City. These assets are partners of Cape May City with a history going back to 1970 when the first partner organization was formed as the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts and Humanities, nicknamed the MAC. This organization was created in partnership with the City to save historic assets, specifically the Emlen Physick Estate. This partnership occurred in conjunction with the city of Cape May being listed in the National Register of Historic Places (and ultimately as a National Historic Landmark). A resolution accepting the Creative Placemaking Plan as a Special Report of the City Master Plan has been requested and will be supplied when it is available. The other partner organizations include: Emlen Physick Estate with Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities; Washington Street Mall Information Booth with the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities; Franklin Street School with the Center for Community Arts (CCA), a multicultural education organization whose arts, humanities, and history programs foster creativity, community building, and appreciation for diversity; The former Welcome Center with Cape May Stage; The Nature Center with the New Jersey Audubon Society; The Marine Research Facility with Rutgers University; The Transportation Center/Welcome Center with the Chamber of Commerce of Greater Cape May; Colonial House with the Greater Cape May Historical Society; and Cape Island Tennis Club with the Cape May Tennis Club, Inc. The Creative Team members that represent these specific partners as well as other creative assets and city government include: Zachary Mullock- Mayor Jody Alessandrine - Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities David Mackenzie - Center of Community Arts Dr. Joseph Salvatore/Bruce Fournier - Naval Air Station Wildwood Aviation Museum Jerry Tarrant - Cape May Maritime Museum Marla Brown - Coast Guard Community Foundation Gretchen Whitman - Cape May Nature Center Roy Bennett Steinberg/Wendy Collins - Cape May Stage Brett Ewald - Cape May Bird Observatory Susan Tischler - East Lynne Theater Company Nancy Hanslow - Cape May Community Food Closet Wendy Collins - Cape May Film Society Anne Salvatore - Historic Cold Spring Village & Cold Spring Brewery Foundation Harry Bellangy - Greater Cape May Historical Society Maria Elena Hallion - The Branches Outreach Cynthia Mullock - Harriet Tubman Museum Bernadette Matthews, Stephen Smith House These are the people who represent the larger community in the creation of the Creative Assets Inventory and Creative Placemaking Plan.

    Municipal Commitments to Support Arts and Creative Culture

    15 Points

    Program Summary: Cape May has recognized the power of arts, history and culture in transforming the landscape of the community. The City has adopted a program of public-private partnerships that have infused a progressive growth of Cape May’s annual economy into a ten and a half month economy as opposed to the average 12 week season typical in most seashore resort communities. This program facilitates the leasing of City-owned property on a long term basis for $1.00 per year with non-profit organizations being responsible for the renovations, operations, and maintenance of the properties. This ensures that the City maintains a nurturing environment by providing the essential physical infrastructure so that fledgling, local, nonprofit cultural, arts and historical organizations can flourish while benefiting the taxpayer by reducing costs associated with maintenance of the properties. Currently, the City has seven (7) such agreements involving City-owned property and they are listed as follows: • Emlen Physick Estate with Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts • Washington Street Mall Information Booth with the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts • Franklin Street School with the Center for Community Arts • The former Welcome Center with Cape May Stage • The Nature Center with the New Jersey Audubon Society • The Marine Research Facility with Rutgers University • The Transportation Center/Welcome Center with the Chamber of Commerce of Greater Cape May Through these public-private initiatives, tremendous opportunities have been presented and pursued to unify the business and residential segments of the City to achieve civic, social, cultural, arts, financial and tourism goals of the entire community. These partnerships are supported by the Tourism Advisory Board and have created employment opportunities that maintain the City’s population base and solidify its economic viability. These non-profit organizations are staffed by a bank of volunteers who plan, develop and implement the vast array of programs, services and activities that are offered on a year round basis to residents and tourists alike. Without these partnerships, the comprehensive schedule of arts, history, cultural, social, environmental, educational, and recreational programs, services and activities could not be possibly funded and staffed by the City of Cape May without the dedication and commitment of these volunteers. Cape May City also has two land use zones with specific allowance of creative assets like art galleries, etc. You can see the three zoning areas through the code in the attached documents. Cape May City has a high percentage of Victorian Hotels in excellent and preserved condition. There is a special land use allowance for arts and art studio space in these historic structures. Cape May City also allows for street performers, which is supportive of the arts. Finally, Cape May includes art and sculpture specifically in its Design Standards.

    Utilizing Your Creative Assets

    30 Points

    Program Summary: Though it has a relatively small year-round population compared to the summer population, the City needs to be prepared with enough services and amenities for those who come to enjoy the seashore resort but might not call it home. Therefore, the City has cultivated nonprofit partnerships with organizations dedicated to preserving, enhancing, and enjoying Cape May’s valuable resources — natural, cultural, historical, and creative. Cape May has recognized the power of arts, history, and culture in transforming the landscape of the community. The City has adopted a program of public-private partnerships that have infused a progressive growth of Cape May’s annual economy into a ten-and-a-half-month economy as opposed to the average 12-week season typical in most seashore resort communities. The first partnership with Emlen Physick Estate started in 1970 with the creation of the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts and Humanities (MAC, rebranded in 2020 to Cape May MAC, standing for Museum+Arts+Culture) and now all of these partnerships are intact. This program facilitates the leasing of City-owned property on a long-term basis for $1.00 per year with non-profit organizations being responsible for the renovations, operations, and maintenance of the properties. This ensures that the City maintains a nurturing environment by providing the essential physical infrastructure so that fledgling, local, non-profit cultural, arts and historical organizations can flourish while benefiting the taxpayer by reducing costs associated with maintenance of the properties. The City currently has nine (9) such agreements involving City-owned property and they are listed as follows: • Emlen Physick Estate with Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities • Washington Street Mall Information Booth with the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities • Franklin Street School with the Center for Community Arts • The former Welcome Center with Cape May Stage • The Nature Center with the New Jersey Audubon Society • The Marine Research Facility with Rutgers University • The Transportation Center/Welcome Center with the Chamber of Commerce of Greater Cape May • Colonial House with the Greater Cape May Historical Society • Cape Island Tennis Club with the Cape May Tennis Club, Inc. Through these public-private initiatives, tremendous opportunities have been presented and pursued to unify the business and residential segments of the City to achieve civic, social, cultural, arts, financial and tourism goals of the entire community. These partnerships have created employment opportunities that maintain the City’s population base and solidify its economic viability. These non-profit organizations are staffed by a bank of volunteers who plan, develop, and implement the vast array of programs, services and activities that are offered on a year-round basis to residents and tourists alike. Without these partnerships, the comprehensive schedule of arts, history, cultural, social, environmental, educational, and recreational pro-grams, services, and activities could not be possibly funded and staffed by the City of Cape May without the dedication and commitment of these volunteers. Please see document created from pages of the MAC's "This Week in Cape May" magazine to see how well the City's creative assets are utilized. This document also explains the partnership between the City and the MAC. Another document is attached to further share the wonderful use of city property assets and the creative asset of Cape May Stage. It explains the history of the partnership and the 2024 lineup of shows to prove that the asset is still active and well utilized. Additionally, properties in the city that continue to be maintained by city government serve as creative assets themselves. The Washington Street Mall, Convention Hall, the Promenade and even the Beach are utilized throughout the year for City-run events. They are also utilized by outside organizations. One such event that happens annually is the Exit Zero Jazz Festival. The festival starts with a "second-line parade" along Washington Street Mall and ends up at Convention Hall for a concert. The City is intimately involved in making the Jazz Fest a possibility through coordination with the Recreation Department where the director promotes the event through the website and social media while also attending the events to ensure things run smoothly. The police also provide public safety during the parade which not only goes along the pedestrian mall, but crosses many streets to get to Convention Hall. Additionally, in 2024, city government made the even possible by stepping in to ensure the Exit Zero Jazz Festival Organization had insurance. They had to use the TULIP program through JIF Risk Management Gather Guard to make the festival happen, as specifically stated by the Deputy City Manager Justin Riggs.

  • Community Partnership & Outreach

    Green Team

    10 Points
    Bronze Required Silver Required

    Program Summary: On February 1, 2011 the City Council of the City of Cape May established the first Cape May City Green Team and appointed members. A new Green Team—with most of the original team members—was created in 2014 for the 2014 application. In the meantime—the City had a change of administration with a new mayor, new business administrator, new council person and more. Anew Green Team was established in 2017 to work on the 2017 application. In 2019, the Green Team ramped up its efforts to maintain silver certification and achieve the Gold Star Standard for Energy. Many individual members of the Green Team have been very busy during the interim years planning and running festivals, working on managing natural resources, working on projects that have been part of the Creative Placemaking Plan, planting trees, etc. In 2024, the Green Team has a reinvigorated commitment to sustainability since the lull of COVID years is somewhat behind us. The newest resolution for the 2024 team is attached and Exhibit A, page 3 also contains the following list of members and their affiliations: Michael Yeager - Council Member/Environmental Commission Liaison; Eric Prusinski, Superintendent of Public Works; Deputy Emergency Management Coordinator Robert Cummiskey - Superintendent of Water and Sewer; Zachary Mullock - Mayor; Timothy Walsh - Environmental Commission; Warren Copland - Historic Preservation Commission; Kevin Hanie- Chief Financial Officer; Sandy Sandmeyer-Bryan - Teacher, Cape May Elementary School; Paul Dietrich- City Manager; James M. Rutala - Environmental Consultant; John Matusiak - Chamber of Commerce of Greater Cape May; Reverend Jeffrey Elliott - Pastor, Cape May Lutheran Church; Adrianna Zito-Livingston - Nature Conservancy; Gretchen Whitman - Nature Center of Cape May & Environmental Commission member; Charlotte Todd - Homeowner

    Community Education & Outreach

    15 Points

    Program Summary: The City of Cape May is focused on sustainability. Understanding that government alone can't ensure the protection of all of Cape May's valuable resources, the City is dedicated to educating residents and visitors on how they can play a part in ensuring the community's future. People love Cape May for its charm and Victorian architecture, but also for its natural setting which is home to valuable species. As part of the migratory flyway for both birds and Monarch butterflies, the City educates the public on how to keep the environment clean and natural for the wildlife. The Monarch Festival was one way the City reached out to residents to inform them about how they can appreciate and help Monarch butterflies. The all-day event included multiple education events. The community had the opportunity to go on two guided nature walks through local trails with an educational component that included a talk about native plants/pollinators on one walk and insects on the other. Festival goers were also treated to a speaker who explained the area's ties to Mexico as part of the Monarch Project (the speaker was the director of the Monarch Project). As an extra special part of the event, there was a ceremony where the City of Cape May joined a sister city in Quebec, Canada committing to protecting and learning about Monarchs. Finally, there were two separate demonstration times to educate the public on how the Monarch Project tags butterflies to study them. Through these demonstrations, the community was educated about how research is key to gaining the knowledge we need to ensure the survival of the species. Other species on the flyway that stop in Cape May include Piping Plovers, American Oyster Catchers and the Red Knot. The beaches, specifically the dunes, in Cape May are so important as nesting sites that sometimes areas of the beach need to close to the public to ensure nesting areas are protected. To make the community aware of the reasons why the beaches have to close sometimes, and to ensure that the beach remains clean because it is a habitat for wildlife, the City held three educational beach cleanups (15 pts). In late summer, there were two walks to explain the importance of the dunes not only as habitat, but for protection of property and sustaining the beach. For its Earth Day celebration on Earth Day, April 22, 2024, the City had yet another cleanup. Each cleanup had great participation and included a group lecture so the volunteers understood why their service was so important. The City of Cape May is committed to protecting wildlife and educating the community so each resident and visitor can do their part to help.

    Green Fair

    10 Points

    Program Summary: The Cape Island Ocean Festival was sponsored by the City of Cape May and the Environmental Commissions of Cape May City and West Cape May. The day began with a flow yoga class and a beach clean of the Cape May Harbor beach across from the Cape May Nature Center. The day continued with fun educational ocean-themed activities focused on the beauty and importance of the ocean and how we can all be good stewards of the sea. It was a family-fun day: kids participated in a scavenger hunt, could purchase a tote bag to tie-dye, could make an ocean necklace, visit sea creatures in our Aquatics Lab, wander down to the Harbor Beach for a Harbor Safari, and/or do some shore birding and support local ocean-themed artists.

  • Emergency Management

    Emergency Communications Planning

    15 Points

    Program Summary: The City of Cape May, Office of Emergency Management, in cooperation with the County Office of Emergency Management, local agencies, and other members of the community, endeavors to prepare for, respond to, and recover from natural and man-made disasters that threaten the lives, safety, and property of the citizens of City of Cape May by identifying major, natural and man-made hazards that threaten life, property, and the environment. They are prepared for this role through use of an efficient, comprehensive organizational structure for emergency response personnel using the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and the Incident Command System (ICS), and following Department of Homeland Security (DHS)/Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) guidelines of planning, response, recovery, and mitigation. The Advisory Committee is comprised of professional Fire, Police, Emergency and Administrative experts joined by relevant community stakeholders who provide useful insights, guidance and recommendations for ensuring effective communication during emergencies. Effective communication includes communicating among emergency personnel and public information officer using two-way radio communications on pre-determined channels. Additional communication is with the community where they use social media, the website, e-mails, signage, and neighborhood direct communication as necessary. The municipal web site is found at www.capemaycity.com/departments/OfficeofEmergencyManagement <http://www.capemaycity.com/departments/OfficeofEmergencyManagement> The City utilizes Nixle for communication between the police department and Office of Emergency Management. This network allows communication via e-mail and text. The City's website is supplemental to this information. Additionally, the city utilizes social media to reach out to the community. The web site also includes access for residents to sign up for "Register Ready". "Register Ready - New Jersey's Special Needs Registry for Disasters" allows New Jersey residents with disabilities or access and functional needs and their families, friends, caregivers and associates an opportunity to provide information to emergency response agencies so emergency responders can better plan to serve them in a disaster or other emergency. OEM and the fire department manage this database and it is part of the City's Emergency Communication Plan. Personnel are trained according to the City's Fire and Police Policy Manuals which includes NIMS and ICS training. The OEM Coordinator is the superintendent of Public Works.

  • Energy

    Energy Efficiency for Municipal Facilities

    50 Points
    Bronze Priority Silver Priority

    Program Summary: The City of Cape May completed a Local Government Energy Audit in July 2011. The audit was funded by NJBPU and completed by Dome-Tech, Inc. To implement this Energy Audit, the City issued a Request for Proposals in accordance with the NJBPU guidelines for an Energy Savings Plan in 2014. On July 7, 2015, a resolution was passed by the governing body selecting John Controls to complete the Energy Savings Plan. Hatch Mott MacDonald, the City Engineer, completed the Third-Party Evaluation in February 2016 and the Energy Savings Plan was approved by the NJBPU in March 2016. The Energy Savings Plan included eleven buildings including City Hall and the Cape May Elementary School. Johnson Controls is in the process of implementing the project and completion is expected by the end of 2017. As noted on the Energy Use Intensity Table electric use is expected to be reduced 289,048 kWh and natural gas is projected to drop 8,536 Therms. The weighted change in Energy Use Intensity is estimate to be 33.68 percent. Given these findings that the energy efficiency upgrades will show at least a 30 percent decrease in energy consumption for the entire building portfolio the City of Cape May should earn 50 points.

    Municipally Supported Community Solar

    15 Points

    Program Summary: The City of Cape May started sharing information about Community Solar during the last certification cycle. To ramp up sign-ups, Cape May has recently connected with Solar Landscape to perform outreach. A new invitation code has been created and the roll out is imminent. Please see the website here (PDF also attached) https://www.capemaycity.com/CommunitySolar. Letter from the mayor will be mailed shortly. The resolution supporting Community Solar is attached along with the memo sharing he resolution. Program Summary: Cape May City has a commitment to serve its coastal community through the adoption of sustainable initiatives, policies, and programs. The City aims to expand its commitment to clean energy through the participation of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities’ permanent Community Solar Energy Program. This new community solar program allows New Jersey communities to enroll in the benefits of clean, solar energy without installing panels. The program works like this: community solar energy is delivered to those that enroll, or ‘subscribe’ to a nearby solar project, typically on the roof of a large commercial building or warehouse. Residents can enroll online and save money while lowering their carbon footprint. The City’s goal is to support a program structure that ensures customer engagement, efficient communication, technical expertise, environmental justice and beneficial economic elements of community solar projects. With that goal in mind, Cape May City partnered with Solar Landscape, who has recently been awarded projects through the NJBPU’s community solar program in the South Jersey region, some of which can serve Cape May City. In alignment with the ‘Municipally Supported Community Solar’ action requirements, the City will complete tasks to earn 15 points: The City will pass a resolution in support of community solar. This resolution will establish parameters for community solar projects in the city. Please see attachments for a copy of this resolution; The City will assist in connecting the Cape May Housing Authority to Solar Landscape to prioritize the enrollment of affordable housing communities and low-to-moderate income residents; The City will publish a ‘Community Solar’ page on the municipal website. This page will explain the details of the community solar program, how to enroll, and other frequently asked questions; The City will conduct an outreach campaign and use several materials to connect and educate its residents with the necessary information to participate in the community solar program. The City will have community solar literature included in the local newsletter, send residents a letter from the mayor’s office, and share flyers at public tabling events. Please see the attachments for copies of all the outreach materials to be used.

    Purchase Alternative Fuel Vehicles

    10 Points

    Program Summary: At the City's January 2023 State of the City address, Mayor Mullock announced the purchase of two electric vehicles for the police department. One is a Ford F150 Lightning and the second is a Ford Mustang. They were in service in early 2023. There are two Level 2 charging stations in the parking lot of the Cape May Municipal Building which also houses the police station, so they have easy access to charging there. There are also two Level 2 charging stations at the City's Welcome/Transportation Center that is 0.3 miles away from the police department. If they need quicker charging, there are also two Level 3 charging stations at the Welcome/Transportation Center. Vehicle Registrations are attached for proof of Cape May Police Department owning the vehicles. There is also a post showing their use and promotion in the community.

    Public Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure

    15 Points

    Program Summary: Cape May City has installed two Level 2 ChargePoint charging stations at City Hall and the Transportation Center. In addition, two ChargePoint Level 3 chargers have been installed at the Transportation Center. The City Hall and Transportation Center chargers are open to the public. The charging stations are listed in a publicly accessible directory system at www.plugshare.com, www.chargehub.com, www.evstationslocal.com, and www.chargepoint.com. Of course, most electric vehicles come equipped with mapping systems that provide the driver with all the locations for EV chargers. Signage has been installed to highlight the location of the changing stations. A photo of the signage is attached. The fee structure sets rates for both city-owned level 2 and level 3 chargers. Users of city-owned level 2 chargers will pay $1.75 an hour for the first four hours and $3.50 an hour thereafter. A charge at a level 3 station will cost $0.40 per kilowatt-hour and $1.25 per minute after the first hour. The ordinance affirms that a private owner of an EV service equipment may collect a fee for its use in accordance with applicable state and federal regulations. When the city-owned station is located at a metered parking space, the user of the EV service equipment must also pay the parking fee.

    Make Your Town Electric Vehicle Friendly

    15 Points

    Program Summary: Cape May's EV Ordinance makes it easy to install an EV charging station whether a personal home or commercial establishment. The ordinance was established in 2021, amended in 2022 and again in 2024 to set the fees. The document meets the model ordinance requirements for safety, signage, and lighting. There are no variances required. Fees are standard and go toward a trust for parking in Cape May City. Please see ordinance attached. First responders are trained to deal with the dangers that Lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles pose during standard HazMat training sessions to protect personnel. The shift supervisors are trained additionally for HazMat Scene Incident Commander.

  • Green Design

    Green Building Policy/Resolution

    5 Points

    Program Summary: City Council first adopted the resolution endorsing the adoption of green building practices for civic, commercial and residential building on May 17, 2011. The resolution has been re-adopted by resolution many times, but most recently in 2024. Cape May continues to show leadership in the area of green building by incorporating green building measures into design, construction, operation and maintenance of buildings and through energy audits and upgrades to buildings, for example. The policy, resolution, and memo to department heads is attached.

    Upgrade/Retrofit-Light Pollution

    10 Points

    Program Summary: The City of Cape May has instituted a Dark Sky initiative. They only allow exterior light fixtures that have a protective cover and allow no light trespass onto neighboring properties.

  • Health & Wellness

    Anti-Idling Education & Enforcement Program

    10 Points

    Program Summary: The City of Cape May City adopted by Ordinance No. 777 an Anti-Idling Ordinance that restricts idling in the City in 2012, see attachment. The two priority areas are the transportation center—which is close to the Washington Street Mall and commercial area of town—and the Wawa, which is on the way into and out of town. See sign and priority site map in the attachment. The sign is still there even though the picture has an older date. The City maintains monitoring and signage at targeted anti-idling locations. A resolution in 2024 has re-supported the anti-idling ordinance and adds specific locations like school pickup, but also calls attention to the fact that any idling longer than 10 seconds is expensive and bad for the environment and health. The anti-idling ordinance is continuously enforced and educational information provided via an educational flyer available at City locations including City Hall, the library, Transportation Center and the Nature Center. This flyer has been redesigned for 2024. A copy of the custom brochure is attached. This is an active campaign - promoted on the website (see screen shot) and also through the signage. The map of priority areas from 2021 is still in effect.

  • Innovative Projects

    Innovative Community Project 1

    10 Points

    Program Summary: Cape May's rehabilitation and reuse of an historic building has been an innovative and model program for sustainability in the State of New Jersey. Cape May has a history of utilizing a unique way to preserve its amazing assets by partnering with nonprofit organizations. The City’s main contribution is leasing properties to the entities for long-term leases at very low cost (in this case $1) and the City also assists with promotion and support of programming. In the case of the former Franklin Street School, the city granted a 25-year lease to Center for Community Arts in 2002. From the website about the Franklin Street School, here is some information, "Franklin Street School opened in September 1928 as an elementary school for Cape May’s African American children. Twenty years later, with segregation banned by New Jersey’s new constitution, the building’s use was changed. Since then, Franklin Street School has stood as a reminder of Cape May’s past. It evokes memories of deep division and, at the same time, bears witness to the magnitude and vitality of Cape May’s African American community.” The beauty of the rehabilitation and new use of the school is that it is focusing on Cape May’s diversity, a key feature of Sustainable Jersey. And many Green Team members have been intimately involved with the project. The rehabilitation is complete and the grand opening/ribbon cutting happened on June 13. Another innovative feature is that the City of Cape May partnered with the County of Cape May to move the Cape May branch of the library system to the Franklin Street school. City employees actually got a day off to participate in the Book Brigade to transfer books from the library branch's former building to the new site at Franklin Street School. The site is also the starting point for the newly created African American Heritage Walking Tours that are so important for the City of Cape May. The Harriet Tubman museum opened on Juneteenth 2021 and really helped to shine a light on the city’s critical role in helping to free slaves. Please see this link for the variety of tours. One tour is in coordination with another of Cape Mays partner, the MAC. http://www.centerforcommunityarts.org/tours City government fully supports the sharing of African American history and has a very detailed webpage dedicated to it as well. Please see attachments for City’s specific support. Of course, the City has been supporting the renovations of the Franklin Street School all along too.

    Innovative Community Project 2

    10 Points

    Program Summary: The City of Cape May has adopted an ordinance banning invasive species. The ordinance has a thorough list of plants that are forbidden. This is an important sustainability element for the City that is committed to its Victorian-era culture and setting.

    Innovative Community Project 3

    10 Points

    Program Summary: The City of Cape May adopted all new Historic Design features recently. These design standards take a modern approach to make sure that renewable energy improvements, energy efficiency improvements, light pollution improvements, etc can all be a part of historic structures.

  • Land Use & Transportation

    Sustainable Land Use Pledge

    10 Points
    Bronze Priority Silver Priority

    Program Summary: The City of Cape May adopted a Sustainable Land Use Pledge in 2024. The resolution is attached and the memo sharing it with department heads is also attached.

    Bicycle and/or Pedestrian Plan

    10 Points

    Program Summary: In 2016, Parsons Brinkerhoff started the Bicycle and Pedestrian Audit and resulting plan. The recommendations in the plan are based on the analysis in the Existing Conditions Technical Memorandum and input from the Stakeholder Advisory Committee. The Bike Walk Cape May draft plan was presented for public input at a community meeting held June 3, 2017. Official Adoption of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan to come. The approval of the plan by the planning board on June 3, 2017 is attached. Additionally, the current version of the Master Plan from 2009 has incorporated bicycle and pedestrian facilities (see Master Plan - pertinent highlights in green). PLEASE NOTE: THE 10/2 COMMENT SAID THAT YOU NEEDED THE SIGNED RESOLUTION ADOPTING BIKE PLAN INTO MASTER PLAN, BUT THAT WAS SUBMITTED JULY 31, 2017. PLEASE ADVISE IF YOU NEED SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

    Effective Parking Management

    10 Points

    Program Summary: The City has a trust fund for parking improvements and regularly works to keep parking managed. They use Park Mobile for payments now and regularly share tips on how to use it to help residents and visitors have an easy time using it. They also restrict parking and require permits where necessary for residents. To ease parking requirements, the city uses a Jitney system to allow visitors to park on the way into town at the elementary school and then use the jitney to get into the heart of town. This is an effective way to help ease parking requirements.

  • Local Economies

    Support Local Businesses

    10 Points

    Program Summary: Coastal New Jersey businesses operate on tight margins during a good season. The pandemic, which began in March 2020, had decimated many small businesses. To support local businesses, the City of Cape May allowed restaurants to have outdoor seating, and even allowed a road closure during pandemic times to allow three restaurants to have outdoor seating. The city also allowed one restaurant to use a parking lot owned by the city so that they could have outdoor dining. Since these measures were successful during the pandemic, the City continued support of outdoor dining after recovering from the worst of the pandemic. In 2022, the City codified allowing temporary use of right-of-way in certain areas for outdoor seating allowing food and beverage consumption, this is in addition to allowing "patio permits" for restaurants in the Washington Street Mall. Additional measures the City of Cape May has taken to help its businesses is by updating its tent ordinance to streamline the process and the permits needed. This was an especially important measure since outdoor seating areas needed to be protected from the elements. For expansion of purchasing opportunities, the City encourages local businesses to bid on City projects. Attached is a specific PO showing local business hired. Another attachment shows a bid award to a local business. For business promotion activities, the City has many opportunities through sponsorships of activities. Their winter roller skating rink at Convention Hall has many sponsors who are promoted at the rink and on Facebook. There are also sponsorship opportunities for Summer Movies at the Beach. Other events like the Easter Stroll take place in business area and allow businesses the opportunity to sponsor and/or offer prizes. Additionally, specific events are planned to support businesses. For business development opportunities, this spring, the City really wanted to help local businesses find employees so they can stay in business, since that is one of the most difficult aspects of running a retail business these days. With opportunities like these and success of this type of project, more businesses will be likely to open up knowing they will be likely to get good employees. A document of facebook posts is attached. Note some of them are shared widely. I added multiple instances of promotions to show that the City continually supports and promotes.

  • Natural Resources

    Environmental Commission

    10 Points

    Program Summary: The Environmental Commission continues to do great work in Cape May City meeting monthly throughout the year and being deeply embedded with Cape May's various projects and community activities. This past year, the commission devoted significant time to community education projects including invasive species related to a new landscaping ordinance, water conservation, and a new Dark Skies initiative to help prevent light pollution. They also worked with City Council on a new seawall design to protect the City's infrastructure, as well as clean-up projects. It has been successful in publicizing environmental information and implementing projects that enhance the City's environment and environmental knowledge of the City's residents and visitors. The attached annual report details the Commission's involvement. The code showing the establishment and legislation surrounding the Environmental Commission can be found at the following link: https://ecode360.com/6657146 .

    Open Space Plans

    10 Points

    Program Summary: The 2003 Master Plan represents a continuation of the City's planning efforts. This Plan sets the goal to preserve and enhance the City's open space system and upgrade recreational land use to protect Cape May's environmental resources and meet the needs of residents and visitors. A copy of this work is provided. To implement its Open Space Plan the City established the Cape May City Open Space Fund in 2002 by adopting Ordinance No. 1259-2002. The City worked with Temple's Department of Landscaping Architecture and Horticulture to design the improvement of several of the City parks, creating a nature reserve in the eastern end of town and preparing a "Pedestrian City Trail". The Plan is to integrate the parks more fully and sustainably into a walkable and vibrant destination City. In 2019, the City completed its master plan re- examination and comprehensively updated its Community Facilities/Recreation and Conservation Elements. This included a new slate of recommendations and updates on various projects completed in the interim, including Lafayette Street Park- the recipient of millions in grant funds. Cape May City continues to expand and enhance its open space, recreation, and bike path system.

    Clustering Ordinance

    10 Points

    Program Summary: The City of Cape May has a Cluster Provision in its Zoning Ordinance. This provision is designed to preserved open space. When clustering is used, at least 75 percent of the tract shall be preserved open space and conveyed to a state, county or local governmental entity for conservation purposes, subject to the ability to utilize the open space for passive recreation, including informational buildings, walkways, trails, observation decks. A copy of the Ordinance is provided below.

    Habitat Conservation Ordinance

    10 Points

    Program Summary: The Habitat Conservation Ordinance was adopted by the City Council of the City of Cape May by Ordinance No. 600; amended in its entirety 12-2-2004 by Ordinance No. 10-2004 (Ch. XXXII of the 1997 Revised General Ordinances). These regulations can be found on the City's web site. The regulations are very progressive. In addition to requiring the replacement of removed trees, the applicant is required to replace any trees located within the footprint of the proposed structure if said trees have a trunk at least three inches in diameter measured at three feet above the ground. Therefore, in addition to the requirement to replace removed trees outside the proposed footprint, plus six feet, the applicant shall plant one tree along the side yard and rear yard, which tree shall be of the same size as the replacement tree except that the applicant is permitted to plant two bushes in lieu of a tree if said bushes are a minimum of two feet in diameter and are classified by the Backyard Habitat for Birds, a Guide for Landowners and Communities in New Jersey, published by the New Jersey Audubon Society. This requirement is to make up for the replacement of shrubs and is in addition to the requirement for replacement trees where said trees are to replace removed trees from outside the building envelope. The replacement trees need not be of the same species as the trees removed; however, they shall be of the same height classifications as the tree removed. The guide to height classifications contained in the Backyard Habitat for Birds shall be considered as sufficient evidence of compliance.

    Community Forestry Management Plan & NJUCF Accreditation

    20 Points

    Program Summary: Cape May’s Shade Tree Commission is extremely active and this is reflected in their Community Forestry Management Plan. Cape May City completed their Community Forestry Management Plan in January 2017. The plan was authored by the city’s Shade Tree Commission with the intent of increasing the community’s understanding of the urban forest and increasing the public’s appreciation of trees on public and private land that benefit the entire community. Each year the City officially proclaims Arbor Day and has a celebration combining Earth Day festivities at Cape May Elementary School each year. Due to COVID, however, these activities did not occur in 2020 or 2021. Although the Shade Tree Commission had no trouble accruing the required CEU’s to maintain their accreditation status during COVID, they were unable to file their 2020 accomplishment report. The most recent accomplishment report from 2019 is attached below. Please note that the annual accomplishment report was received by NJDEP NJUCF and the City did earn accreditation status in 2019. Please see the letter from DEP that shows the plan extension until 2026. Due to this, does Cape May City need an additional Annual Accomplishment Report? Cape may is accredited still—until 2026. Please see CFMP CEUs document attached. According to that document, the most recent plan listed that is approved until 2026 is the 2017 plan attached. Please advise if we are missing something, but seems this is the most updated accreditation documentation.

    Tree Maintenance Programs

    10 Points

    Program Summary: Cape May City has a very active Shade Tree Commission that is granted a lot of power through the ordinance that established the Comission. They also have specific powers over trees and landscaping in general through the zoning ordinance. Cape May has a landscaping ordinance mal requires up to 60% of a lot be left in vegetation and tree replacement for larger trees that are removed.Participation by the Environmental Commission and Shade Tree Commission in land development reviews has ensured compliance with the regulations and sbould continue. The Commission completed its new five-year Community Forestry Management Plan for 2017. The plan encompasses actions for each of the 14 Community Stewardship Incentive Program practices—tree maintenance is among them. The City's Shade Tree Commission had about $32,000 budgeted for each of the years 2011 to 2015. The 2016 budget was over $35,000. Please see the uploaded document for 2024 information.

  • Operations & Maintenance

    Green Purchasing Policy

    5 Points

    Program Summary: The City's Green Purchasing Policy was revised in February 2022. It was readopted by resolution in March 2024. The resolution and policy are attached in the same document. A second document showing that the policy was passed to department heads is also attached.

    Green Grounds & Maintenance Policy

    10 Points

    Program Summary: A new Green Grounds and Maintenance Policy was created for City of Cape May and it is attached. To demonstrate examples of how to follow the policy, Cape May has a water-conserving garden at the Kiwanis Community Park that is highly visited due to its new playground and also proximity to tennis courts. More information can be found here—https://www.capemay.com/play/mike-shouvlin-conservation-garden/—and a copy via document is also attached. A resolution adopting a Green Grounds and Maintenance policy was passed in March 2024 and a memo was circulated to all department heads. To go further to protect not only the environment but the health of residents and visitors to Cape May, the city is planning to ban the use of Round Up.

  • Waste Management

    Prescription Drug Safety & Disposal

    10 Points
    Bronze Priority Silver Priority

    Program Summary: Since 2012, Cape May Police Department has been an authorized drop off location for expired or unused prescription medication. The secure container is located in the lobby of the Cape May Police Department, located at 643 Washington Street in Cape May. Project Medicine Drop allows the public to dispose of unused and expired prescription medications safely, securely, and anonymously. The opportunity is available seven days a week, 365 days a year. The police department does an excellent job of updating its website with information on the program, as well as its Facebook page. Reminders about the collection box are periodically posted the department's Facebook page, which has 7,400 followers. In 2023, Cape May City disposed of 120lbs of prescription drugs. The disposal site for these materials is the COVANTA Environmental Solutions Site located at 600 Morgan St., Camden, NJ 08104.

    Non-Mandated Materials Recycling

    5 Points

    Program Summary: The City of Cape May accepts non-mandated materials for recycling. The City collects electronics for recycling which is mandated, but also collects scrap metal which is non-mandated. What is unique about collection of both the mandated and non-mandated items is they can be dropped off at Cape May's Recycling Depot which is also open for residents to drop off materials typically collected at curbside. Additionally to make recycling easy, the City also held an e-Waste collection at the Harborfest event in early summer 2024. In 2023, Cape May City collected 31.01 tons of scrap metal (non-mandated) and 13.08 tons of electronic waste. The City maintains a central recycling facility at 830 Canning House Lane. This facility is a much-appreciated convenience by the residents as they can drop off curbside items and additional recyclable material without having to wait for their collection day, especially vacationers who may be leaving town before their recycling is collected. Hours of operation are from 7:30am to 3:15pm May 1 thru October 31. The winter schedule is November 1 thru April 30. The center is closed on Wednesdays during the winter. Saturday hours are from 8:00am to Noon. The drop-off is closed Sundays and holidays.

    Recycling Depot

    10 Points

    Program Summary: The Recycling and Solid Waste Element of the Master Plan was updated during the 2009 Reexamination and it is consistent with the State Plan goals. Recycling in Cape May is presented on the City's website—including a specific page under Public Works for the Central Recycling Station. The City strives to comply with the New Jersey Statewide Mandatory Separation and Recycling Act. The recycling plan is also compliant with the County recycling plan. The City maintains a central recycling facility at 830 Canning House Lane to encourage recycling and facilitate higher recycling rates. The Central Recycling Depot is an integral part of the city's solid waste and recycling management plan as it allows vacationers who may be leaving before the next recycling day to drop their materials at the city recycling depot. The Central Recycling Station accepts paper products, glass food and beverage containers, plastic bottles and jugs, Christmas trees, leaves, grass clippings, fluorescent bulbs, yard waste, electronic waste, rigid plastic, and scrap metal. The central recycling facility is located at the Public Works yard. Still active. Website pages include the following: https://www.capemaycity.com/central-recycling-station and https://www.capemaycity.com/departments/PublicWorks/Recycle (PDFs attached)