Our Monday meeting contains six pieces of legislation up for a public hearing, including one that would limit the number of short-term rentals per block. I have two amendments, possibly more, that would define blockface to include communities (like mine) that do not have traditional blocks, and exempt owner-occupied STRs from this limitation since simply renting out rooms doesn’t have as much of a negative impact on communities as entire homes being rented (as opposed to having long-term residents via ownership or long-term rentals).

Re-election campaign update

Save the date! I plan to send an email early next week with details about a fundraiser event tentatively scheduled for Friday, July 25th at 7:00 p.m. Your support would be greatly appreciated! 

Donations. As I prepare to organize some important mailers to reach more voters, your generous financial support would be invaluable in helping us run a strong and effective campaign. Sending checks is best (no fees!), made out to Friends of Rob Savidge, mailed to 12 Windwhisper Ln, but you can also donate at www.RobSavidge.com/Donate

Volunteering. If you are interested in volunteering, there are so many meaningful ways to get involved! Whether it’s helping distribute campaign signs, hosting a meet-and-greet to introduce neighbors, or joining our door-to-door outreach team to engage directly with community members, your enthusiasm can make a tremendous impact. I deeply appreciate every offer of support, and together, I know we can achieve great things. Thank you so much for considering being part of this journey!

Legislative action summary from last meeting

• R-17-25 - 2025 Transit Development Plan for the City of Annapolis – Approved (I voted Aye)
• R-22-25 - City Supported Special Events in Fiscal Year 2026 – Approved (I voted Aye)

Stay healthy and stay safe,

Rob

It's time again to get out there and knock on some doors! Join us this Saturday

There isn’t too much to report on for our upcoming Council meeting. Nothing is up for a public hearing and we only have two pieces of legislation up for a Second Reader (final vote). That said there are two things I’d like to highlight:

1. We will be holding a preliminary hearing on a petition of Annexation for the Carrs Road community. This is an area between Chesapeake Harbour and Edgewood Green, off Edgewood Rd. It was left out of the annexation decades ago, and now they have failing septic tanks and would like to annex. I believe there are around 15 or so current homes. The purpose of this preliminary hearing is to determine if there is any additional supplemental information or studies that the Council may deem needed to officially move the annexation petition to the next step, which would be a public hearing and then an introduction of the associated Resolutions and Ordinances. Based on my conversations with staff, they will likely make a recommendation that some additional information be gathered. What I will likely do is make a motion to request this additional information be given to us, by the petitioners, by June 2026. That means that when the petitioners get this information to the Council, likely the new Council, we will hold a second preliminary hearing that will hopefully conclude and move to the next steps.
2. We may add legislation on First Reader (i.e. introduction) to the agenda. Given that we are at the end of a Council term, we have limited time left with our “sine die” on our second meeting in October. Many, including staff, are trying to get legislation through last minute. In order for the timing to work, when factoring in the August recess all City bodies realize, we need to get legislation to the Planning Commission as soon as possible in order to give them enough time to get their recommendations back to us. Hence, we may move to add the following legislation to the agenda, though it will require a suspension of the rules since the staff reports are not all ready. Because of this, I am not prepared to comment on this legislation, but here is the list nonetheless.
   1. O-15-25 - Removing Accessory Dwelling Unit Owner-Residency Requirement (Schandelmeier) - Planning Commission, then Rules & Government Committee
   2. O-18-25 - Reallowing Duplexes in R2 Zoning Districts (Huntley) - Planning Commission then Rules & Government Committee
   3. O-27-25 - Cutting of Trees in Critical Areas and Tree Replacement (Savidge) - Planning Commission then Rules & Government AND Environmental Matters
   4. O-29-25 - Tyler Avenue Complete Community Overlay District (Gay) - Planning Commission, then Rules & Government AND Housing & Human Welfare
   5. O-30-25 - Business Revitalization Zoning District Regulations (O'Neill) - Planning Commission, then Rules & Government Committe

Legislative action summary from last meeting

• R-20-25 - FY 2026 Annual Fees Schedule – approved with amendments (I voted Aye)
• R-21-25 - FY 2026 Fines Schedule - approved with amendments (I voted Aye)
• O-10-25 - Annual Budget and Appropriation and Property Tax Levy. approved with amendments (I voted Aye)
• O-33-24 - Appeals Process for Property Development in Annapolis - approved with amendments (I voted Aye)
• O-11-25 - Arts in Public Places Commission Update and Revisions – Approved (I voted Aye)
• R-12-25 - Street-end Park on Annapolis Street - Approved (I voted Aye)
• R-17-25 - 2025 Transit Development Plan for the City of Annapolis – Postponed until 6/16 meeting (I made the motion and voted Aye)

Stay healthy and stay safe,

Rob

We held an all-day budget meeting this past Monday. At this time we went over all of our Council-amendments to the budget as introduced by the Mayor. you can view the overall list here, though it does not indicate what passed. What I will do is offer you a summary of my amendments. Out of the previous list I've sent you, here are the ones that I moved forward with and successfully got passed:

1. Council implementation position - Created a new Council implementation specialist position that will be located in the City Manager's office and focus on ensuring our legislation is properly implemented by staff, and keep track of code-mandated reporting to the Council. ~$100,000
2. West Street sustainable high value transit study - $100k to partner with the County (and hopefully State) on a feasibility study for installing sustainable and clean high value transit along the West Street corridor, from City Dock to Annapolis Mall, building off of a 2009 study that laid the ground work for our very successful downtown circulator. The goal of this is to determine if we can move in the direction of Transit Oriented Development (TOD) on that corridor, to help us in restorative redevelopment of key areas, increase our housing options, while at the same time addressing the traffic and safety issues along that corridor, spearheading economic development, and enabling pedestrianization of key streets downtown.
3. Bembe Beach sidewalk improvements - I amended the traffic safety CIP to include utilizing that money to install a sidewalk on Bembe Beach Road and to install short-term traffic calming measures on Edgewood Road.
4. Complete streets on Main St - I amended the CIP for the Main Street rebricking to ensure it looks at improving/installing bike lanes and additional street trees.
5. Eastport-Ward 7 circulator - $40k to look at installing a circulator (similar to and connected to the downtown circulator) that would run from Eastport to Ward 7, allowing people to get around this part of our town without a car.
6. Complete Streets CIP - Modified our CIP to allocate funds to supplement other road related CIP projects to ensure they adopt a Complete Streets approach. $525k bond funding
7. Green roof evaluations - Adjusted the facilities CIP to ensure that whenever roof work is being assessed that they also look at installing solar panels and/or a green roof.
8. Wells Cove - Adjusted the Wells Cove CIP to help ensure we maintain and improve this vital public access point for Eastport.
9. Bay Ridge ave bikeway expansion - This CIP text amendment officially implemented an expansion of this bikeway project for Bay Ridge Ave, to include looking at the feasibility of utilizing the old railroad grade from Bay Ridge Ave to Tyler Ave.
10. Carrs Rd annexation support - This $100k will primarily support those of less means to remove their failing septics and connect to our sewer system, assuming the property gets annexed to the City, which is in the work.
11. Stanton Center rehabilitation - Clarified the Stanton Center CIP to ensure that Phase 1 will be focused on resolving the known rehabilitation needs for Stanton Center, such as a new roof and bathrooms, before committing to any upgrade of their gym floor into an LED-floor system.
12. Forest Drive high value transit and TOD study - My colleagues are currently proposing to add density along this corridor. Unfortunately, they are about to commit to such an increase without addressing the long-standing traffic and safety issues we have on Forest Drive. My thinking in securing this $100k, is to do something similar to the West Street effort: develop a plan to add high value transit, transit centers, etc. that will serve to reduce the traffic volume on that road, therefore making its safer. I hope to partner with the County and State on this effort as well

Legislative action summary from last meeting

• O-1-25 – Expansion of Child Care Options in Annapolis – Passed (I voted Aye)
• R-24-25 - Confirmation of Human Resources and Integrated Technology Solutions Directors – Passed (I voted Aye)

Stay healthy and stay safe,

Rob

Due to Memorial Day, our Council meeting has been moved to Tuesday evening. Before this meeting, we will hold a work session to discuss a proposed $1.5 light-up LED basketball court and $2 million e-sports arena for the Stanton Center. I have a lot of concerns about these proposals and hope to get some answers.

Also of note are that we have a number of pieces of legislation up for a public hearing, including on legislation that would enact the Council-Mayor compensation commission recommendations to increase the Council and Mayor’s pay during the next term. As well as one that deals with fines and requirements to clear snow from sidewalks.

In case you missed it last week, here are some of the amendments I'm planning on moving forward with to the proposed FY26 budget.

• Create a Legislative implementation auditor
• Regional electric transportation system feasibility study in partnership with the County, focusing on West st (building off of a 2009 Study for West St)
• Bembe Beach sidewalk extension
• Deployable safety bollards downtown to enable safe pedestrianization of Main st & West st. (This has been rolled into one of Alderman Arnett’s amendments)
• Bay Ridge Rd-Ave-Eastport circulator shuttle study
• Numerous txt amendments to our CIP road projects to ensure they take a Complete Streets approach.
• CIP Complete streets supplemental funding project.
• Downtown outreach for economic vitalization through pedestrianization
• Quick-build road safety improvements
• Tyler Ave speed camera
• Downtown-Eastport traffic circulation study
• Edgewood Rd traffic calming initiative
• Carrs beach annexation support (carry-over from last year)
• Bay Ridge Road diet (Carry-over from last year – though I’ve recently learned a new carry-over amendment may not be needed)
• City-County Forest Drive transit study
• I may propose changes to the proposed Stanton center LED basketball court and e-sports arena – These have a total cost around $3 million dollars, and I have concerns that there are other more urgent needs that need to be met at the Stanton Center. Once I have all the data I may end up re-allocating this money towards things like a repair of the Stanton center roof, extending hours, fixing their kitchen, or maintaining recreational fields.

Legislative action summary from last meeting

• R-2-25 – Demonstration Program to Build Green Roofs on City Bus Shelters – passed (I voted Aye)
• R-24-25 - Confirmation of Human Resources and Integrated Technology Solutions Directors – passed (I voted Aye)

Stay healthy and stay safe,

Rob

First of all, I wanted to thank all of you that were able to join me at my re-election campaign kick-off. We probably had between 70 to 100 people join us throughout the evening. I am incredibly fortunate to have such kind-hearted and thoughtful supporters, and I enjoyed the opportunity to chat with you about the future of Ward 7. If you missed my remarks, you can view them on Facebook. And as always, I could use your financial support as we gear up re-election campaign.

And to my Eastport friends, I hear you loud and clear. And in light of my analysis and comments below on O-14-25, I will work to take a more transit-first approach to addressing parking and Traffic issues in the City, to at least get that planned out more properly before we start making too many drastic changes to density or parking. To that end, I will be requesting funding to look at extending the downtown circulator bus to Eastport, and potentially create an Eastport circulator that would connect Ward 7 to Eastport and downtown in a much more convenient and predictable manner.

As you may know, we are right in the middle of our budget season. Much to my colleagues chagrin, I will be putting forward dozens of budget amendments; some substantial some minor, but all working towards my vision for an Annapolis with sustainable mobility options. Here are some highlights:

• Create a Legislative implementation auditor
• Regional electric transportation system feasibility study in partnership with the County, focusing on West st (building off of a 2009 Study for West St)
• Bembe Beach sidewalk extension
• Deployable safety bollards downtown to enable safe pedestrianization of Main st & West st.
• Bay Ridge Rd-Ave-Eastport circulator shuttle study
• Numerous txt amendments to our CIP road projects to ensure they take a Complete Streets approach.
• CIP Complete streets supplemental funding project.
• Downtown outreach for economic vitalization through pedestrianization
• Bike parking infrastructure installation in City Garages
• Quick-build road safety improvements
• Old Fourth Ward and inner West Street Restorative Development
• Tyler Ave speed camera
• Council project manager
• Downtown-Eastport traffic circulation study
• Edgewood Rd traffic calming initiative
• Fare-free transit
• Mini-roundabout CIP addition
• Carrs beach annexation support (carry-over from last year)
• Bay Ridge Road diet (Carry-over from last year)
• Rec & Parks eco training
• City-County Forest Drive transit study
• And a few more that are still being finalized…

Also, note below a discussion about O-14-25, which seeks to increase density along Forest Dr. and other corridors for Planned Unit Developments. This is a Density-Driven Development approach, which I disagree with as it perpetuates traffic and parking impacts without a solution. I am much more of a supporter of Transit Oriented/Driven Development, which uses transit to fund and drive development, which also offsets and improves traffic and parking impacts at the same time (not to mention the environmental benefit to getting people out of cars). 

Lastly, here is a video put together by the Mayor called “8 Years 8 Wards”.

Legislative action summary from last meeting

R-2-25 – Demonstration Program to Build Green Roofs on City Bus Shelters – Postponed (I voted Aye)

R-15-25 - Friendship City Relationship with Frankston – Adopted (I voted Aye)

R-19-25 - Memorial Honoring the Life and Legacy of the Late U.S. Representative Parren J. Mitchell – Adopted (I voted Aye and amended it)

Stay healthy and stay safe,

Rob

In case you missed it, you can view the State of the City address that the Mayor gave. It was a good highlight of the past 8 years that many of us have worked together with this administration.

I also wanted to highlight an event I am co-sponsoring on May 1^st at 6pm in West Annapolis (see below for the flyer). It’s an opportunity to support two of our next leaders that are campaigning to get on or return to the City Council: Aldermanic candidates Harry Huntley (Ward 1) and Keanuu Smith-Brown (Ward 3). If I’m fortunate enough to be re-elected myself, I look forward to working with these two gentlemen.

I will work on getting you a summary of the FY26 City budget as I learn more about it and we conclude our hearings with the Departments and Finance Department. But here is some information from our Public Information Office. I’d like to call out a few things:

• There is no proposed increase in the tax rate. Any increase you may see on your taxes would be due to any increase in property value.
• $1.3 million in continuing funding for remediation of the athletic fields at Weems Whalen fields.
• $93,250 in capital expenditures for a pedestrian activated crosswalk on Bembe Beach Road
• New and continuing funding for improvements at City parks including Waterworks ($336,000); Wells Cove ($105,000); Annapolis Gateway Park ($1M); and Conduit Street ($368,500).

As I indicated in my last email to you, I am running for re-election, and my kick-off event will be on May 6^th at 6pm at the Annapolis Sailing School. Can’t beat the location! And you can’t beat the Bosa Nova music by the talented Jonathan Stone. I would be honored to serve you again and have a lot planned to continue building a stronger Ward 7 and beyond. I hope I can count on your support. If you can attend, please RSVP here so we can better determine how much food and drink to get.

On the Council front, this week we have five items up for public hearings: O-10-25 (budget appropriation and tax levy), O-11-25 (AIPPC related), R-17-25 (Transportation Development Plan), R-20-25 (FY26 fee schedule), and R-21-25 (FY26 fine schedule).

Legislative action summary from last meeting

• O-5-25 - Speed Monitoring Cameras – Passed with proposed amendment - (I voted Aye, and I’m a co-sponsor)
• O-10-24 - Outdoor Dining Requirements in Annapolis – Passed with many amendments - (I voted Aye, and I’m a co-sponsor)
• O-23-24 - Parking and Towing Regulations – Passed with proposed amendment

Stay healthy and stay safe,

Rob

This is proving to be quite a busy spring. Tonight, we have the State of the City address by the Mayor. There is a reception at 6pm that you are welcome to attend at City Hall, in honor of this being our last State of the City together as this Council-Mayoral team. The FY26 City budget will also be presented to the City Council.

That said, this hopefully will NOT be my final State of the City Address. I am running for re-election, and my kick-off event will be on May 6^th at 6pm at the Annapolis Sailing School. Can’t beat the location! And you can’t beat the Bosa Nova music by the talented Jonathan Stone. I don’t have an RSVP link set up yet, but email me if you want to attend and I’ll get that to you when it’s ready. I would be honored to serve you again and have a lot planned to continue building a stronger Ward 7 and beyond. I hope I can count on your support.

Back to Council business, we have two items up for a public hearing: part two of my fence reform effort with O-30-24, and O-10-25 that seeks to expand child care options. We also have final votes on O-5-25 (authorizing installation of new speed cameras – I am a co-sponsor), O-10-24 (seasonal outdoor dining – I am a co-sponsor), and O-23-24 (Parking and towing regs).

Legislative action summary from last meeting

• R-38-25 – Condemnation and Possession of Real Property at 245 West Street – Postponed (I voted for postponement)
• R-53-24 – FY 2025 Changes to Executive Pay Ranges – Adopted (I voted Aye)
• R-54-25 – FY 2025 Changes in the Position Classifications and Pay Plan – Adopted (I voted Aye)
• R-8-25 – Mayor, Alderperson, and City Manager Compensation – Adopted (I voted Aye)
• R-9-25 – Annapolis City Council Support for Maryland House Bill 226/Senate Bill 569 (2025) – Adopted (I voted Aye)
• O-34-24 – FY 2025 Changes in Exempt Service Job Classifications – Adopted (I voted Aye)

Stay healthy and stay safe,

Rob

I have a number of important Ward 7 updates for you. First of all, the Department of Planning & Zoning has launched a new neighborhood zoning initiative called Tyler Avenue Complete Community. The initiative is focusing on improvements to the Tyler Avenue corridor including a safer streetscape, new housing options, expanded tree canopy, and community spaces. 

Also, for those who live on Back Creek, the Annapolis Maritime Resilience Initiative is having two public meetings in Eastport to get project ideas.

As far as Monday’s meeting, there is no legislation up for a public hearing, but we will be having a final vote on legislation dealing with the class & compensation for City employees.

Legislative action summary from last meeting

• R-10-25 – 2025 Annapolis Film Festival Fee Waier – Adopted (I voted Aye)
• R-11-25 – Dir3ector of Finance – appointment of Brittany Moran (I vote Aye)

Stay healthy and stay safe,

Rob

Happy St Patrick’s day! I hope everyone enjoys the parade this Sunday and has a safe weekend.

At this upcoming Monday’s Council meeting there will be public hearings on some proposed legislation that would alter the appeals process for property development in Annapolis, and on the 2025 Salary Reivew Commission’s recommendations for adjustments to the Mayor and Council’s compensation. In addition, there are two final votes: one on waiving fees for the 2025 Annapolis Film Festival and another on confirming a new Director of Finance.

Legislative action summary from last meeting

• CA-2-24 -Turned HR and IT into full Departments per the Charter -  Adopted (I voted No)
• O-2-25 – WRNR radio tower lease with the City – Adopted (I voted Aye)
• O-23-24 – Expanded radius at which we can select towing companies – Adopted (I voted Aye)
• O-32-24 – Fire sprinkler downtown requirements – Adopted (I voted Aye)
• O-34-24 – FY2025 changes to exempt employee job classification – Postponed
• R-1-25 – Thompson street park naming – Adopted (I voted Aye)
• R-2-25 – Demo project for green roofs on bus shelters – Referred to committee
• R-6-25 – Boat show non-profit vendors – Adopted (I voted Aye)
• R-7-25 – Itinerant merchant sales in historic district – Adopted (I voted Aye)
• R-53-24 – FY25 executive pay scale – Postponed
• R-54-24 – FY25 changes to position classification & pay scale – Postponed

Stay healthy and stay safe,

Rob