This blog post is getting out later than usual due to my son’s birthday as well as all of the Annapolis Songwriters Festival activities. I hope you were able to enjoy some music over the past few days.

Tomorrow we will be holding final votes on expanding entertainment opportunities in the B1 district, designating two pocket parks in West Annapolis, condemning the destruction of the Greenbury Point conservation area, setting up a task force to review our municipal code governing our elections, and creating a new fee for maritime zones. If you have any thoughts on any of these, please let me know.

Next Council meeting – 9/19/22 (agenda)

This Council meeting is starting at 7pm and will be televised on local cable, YouTube, Facebook, and the City website.  You can submit public testimony at http://www.annapolis.gov/testimony. This will be an in-person meeting.

Public Hearings

• CA-2-22 - Board of Supervisors of Election - For the purpose of expanding the Board of Supervisors of Elections from three members to five members.
• O-25-22 - Revenue and Finance - Purchasing and Procurement - Prevailing Wage and Local Hiring
• O-38-22 - Vehicles and Traffic - Stopping, Standing and Parking - Parking Spaces Reserved - For the purpose of reserving temporary assigned handicapped parking spaces in residential areas for City of Annapolis residents; and generally dealing with handicapped parking.

Legislation being introduced on first reader

• O-18-22 - Stanton Center Lease Agreement (Anne Arundel County Community Action Agency, Inc.) - For the purpose of approving the lease for certain City-owned property located at the Stanton Community Center, 92 West Washington Street, Annapolis, Maryland 21401 between Anne Arundel County Community Action Agency, Inc. and the City of Annapolis; providing an effective date; and matters generally relating to said Lease Agreement.
• O-21-22 - Stanton Center Lease Agreement (Street Angel Project, Inc.) - For the purpose of approving the lease for certain City-owned property located at the Stanton Community Center, 92 West Washington Street, Annapolis, Maryland 21401 between Street Angel Project, Inc. and the City of Annapolis; providing an effective date; and matters generally relating to said Lease Agreement.
• R-56-22 - City Dock Holiday Market and Itinerant Merchant Sales in the Historic District - For the purpose of authorizing a non-recurring major City Dock event; and authorizing hawker, peddler, and itinerant merchant sales in the Historic District in conjunction with the Annapolis City Dock Holiday Market event.

Legislation on second reader (i.e. final vote)

• O-11-22 - Standard Restaurants - B1 District Special Exceptions - For the purpose of modifying additional standards for food and beverage-related uses in the B1 District that are subject to special exception. This would make the B1 Districts consistent with the B2, B3, B3-CD, and PM districts by allowing more activities via special exception, including live entertainment indoors, later hours of operation, rooftop dining, and more. Alderman Arnett has an amendment proposed to ensure the outdoor hours cannot exceed 11PM. I’m currently inclined to support the legislation and amendment, given that the Special Exception process would give the public a chance to speak up if these potential other uses are requested, but my mind isn’t made up so I welcome your comments. (Also note that we do NOT have any B1 districts in Ward 7)
• R-47-22 - Tolson Street Park - For the purpose of designating certain City of Annapolis-owned property as a Mini-Park; naming the Mini-Park at the northeast end of Tolson Street the "Tolson Street Park"; and generally relating to park amenities. I’m inclined to support this, pending any comments from you.
• R-48-22 - Tucker Street Park - For the purpose of designating certain City of Annapolis-owned property as a Mini-Park; naming the Mini-Park at the northeast end of Tucker Street the "Tucker Street Park"; and generally relating to park amenities. I’m inclined to support this, pending any comments from you.
• R-52-22 - A Task Force to Study the City Municipal Election Laws and Make Recommendations, If Needed, to Improve the City Code, Structure, and Procedures for City Municipal Elections -For the purpose of establishing a Task Force to study the City municipal election laws and make recommendations, if needed, to improve the City Code, structure, and procedures for elections in the City of Annapolis. This proposal comes from the Board of Supervisors of Elections. I’d like to hear more about what they feel is driving the need for this and how it differs/builds upon what the Charter Review Commission did, prior to determining how I will vote.
• R-54-22 - Non-maritime Use Fee on Waterfront Property per City Zoning Code - For the purpose of establishing a fee for non-maritime use of waterfront property in the City of Annapolis per ? 21.46.010 (E); and generally related to maritime zoning in the City. The creation of this fee was a part of our earlier legislation that we passed, which overhauls the Maritime zones in the City. The intent of this fee is to build the Annapolis Maritime Industry Fund as a tool for retaining, enhancing, and expanding maritime businesses in Annapolis while not discouraging property owners from using the water access incentives that trigger the fee. Since I’m the primary sponsor of this legislation, I clearly am inclined to support it, but I am considering referring this to the Maritime Advisory Board for further comments/analysis prior to passage, as well as requesting a public comment period for this Resolution (doesn’t automatically happen with Resolutions). The only downside to this is that it would delay the creation of this fee.
• R-55-22 - Proposed Greenbury Point Conservation Area Golf Course - For the purpose of expressing the Annapolis City Council's opposition to the development of Greenbury Point Conservation Area into a golf course. I am the primary sponsor on this legislation. I know some on the Council are wary of supporting this simply because Greenbury Point is not within the City’s jurisdiction. Considering that many of our residents enjoy walking on Greenbury Point, I feel we have an obligation to do what we can to speak up for conservation, as opposed to expanding or building an elite golf course that would be more impactful to the health of the Chesapeake Bay, including the Severn River and waters of our City Dock.

Community & Political updates

Parking tips for the fall boat show

Kunte Kinte Festival – Saturday September 24th

City to celebrate Hispanic/Latino Heritage Month from Sept 15^th to Oct 15th

Opportunity to Serve on the Annapolis Democratic Central Committee

There is an opportunity for a resident from Ward 7 to serve as an alternate on the Annapolis Democratic Central Committee (http://annapolisdems.org). In addition to fulfilling duties imposed by the Annapolis City Code, the ADCC supports a strong and viable Democratic Party. If you are interested in serving, please let me know and I will put you in touch with the Central Committee.