A new section. The City's boards, commissions, and Council committees do a great deal of work that never makes the news. Here is what happened over the past two weeks, in brief.

• Rules and City Government Committee (October 1). The committee sent four items to Monday's agenda with favorable recommendations: my two Charter amendments, CA-2-26 (with Alderman Smith-Brown's substitute amendment, by a 2-1 vote) and CA-3-26 (with Alderman Thorp's amendment, modified); the Resilience Authority ordinance with both of my amendments; and the room rental ordinance with its simplifying amendment. Details on each under final votes below.

• Public Safety Committee (September 30). The committee recommended O-12-26 (West Annapolis parking district change) and the driveway parking ordinance, O-17-26, as amended. The amendment it adopted folds in the administrative appeal from my Amendment 4, so a resident ticketed in front of their own driveway can get the citation voided with proof of occupancy, and gives several Ward 8 streets a carve-out through the end of 2027. The Police Department reported total crime down 6 percent this year, property crime down 10 percent, and traffic crashes down about 15 percent, with Forest Drive one of its two primary traffic enforcement corridors. The Fire Department announced grants for cardiac monitors and an underwater search robot. The Office of Emergency Management reported 26 cooling center activations this summer, up from 15, and said the winter relief shelter moves to the Robinwood Community Center starting November 1.

• Finance Committee (October 7). Recommended a $1,000 fine for food truck violations tied to O-25-26, the $20,000 Police Athletic League grant on Monday's consent calendar, and the $102,250 transfer to replace snowplow blades (more on that below). The Finance Director reported the FY26 audit remains on schedule for December, which is well ahead of last year.

• Financial Advisory Commission (October 8). The Finance Director reported that, after meeting with the City's debt advisor, the City is leaning toward issuing no new debt this fiscal year because cash on hand covers its active capital projects. The commission also took up the letter I sent it last month on issues I want examined ahead of the FY28 budget, including vacancy savings and debt capacity, and assigned two members to draft a response. 

• Board of Appeals (October 6). The board denied AutoZone's request for a wall sign taller than the code allows at 1942 West Street, saying the company designed the building without regard to the code and could still find a conforming solution. It approved a rear setback variance for a three-season porch on Ellershaw Court and extended two variances on Arundel Place, and deferred a porch variance at 13 Lafayette Avenue because the mailed notices went out a day late. The November meeting falls on Election Day, so the next regular meeting is expected December 1.

• Alcoholic Beverage Control Board (October 7). Approved one-day licenses for Fish For A Cure at Safe Harbor Annapolis on Chester Avenue in Eastport, November 6 and 7, which raised more than $1 million for cancer survivorship programs last year. Also approved: new management at Teriyaki House and 49 West Coffeehouse, and an extension to November 1 for the former Armadillo's on Dock Street to reopen as Mavericks of Annapolis.

• Human Relations Commission (October 5). A resignation has left the commission with exactly a quorum, so a single absence cancels a meeting. The commission is preparing for the Mayor's visit on November 2, where it wants to settle its bylaws, its relationship with the Council and the Housing Authority, and a budget for outreach and training, and it wants the City to begin collecting hate-bias incident data the way the County does. If you have an interest in serving on this or any City board, the application is at the City's boards and commissions page, the Boards and Commissions Office is at 410-263-7997, and I am always glad to hear from Ward 7 residents who want to serve.

• Wards 1 and 2 Budget Town Hall (October 1). The second of the Mayor's four budget town halls (ours was September 16). Residents pressed for basic maintenance ahead of new projects, from street lights to pickleball courts, asked about the revenue lost to unlicensed short-term rentals, and raised the City-versus-County tax burden. The Mayor said sidewalks, at about $1 million a year, should be paid for in cash rather than bonded, that Main Street rebricking is planned to start in FY28, and that the City is finally building a complete inventory of its assets. The next session, for Wards 6 and 8, is Thursday, October 22 at the Eastport Volunteer Fire Hall; any resident is welcome.