The first Council meeting of the new year is this Monday. There are two pieces of legislation up for a public hearing and two up for a final vote, but nothing too controversial. On Monday January 17^th is a virtual Dr. Martin Luthor King Jr breakfast; information below.

Enjoy the snow and winter weather and happy new year!

Stay healthy and stay safe,

Rob

Next Council meeting – 1/10/22 (agenda)

This Council meeting is starting at 7pm and will be televised on local cable, Facebook, and the City website (www.annapolis.gov). http://www.youtube.com/CityofAnnapolis  http://www.facebook.com/CityofAnnapolis

Anyone needing reasonable accommodation to be able to participate in a public meeting held by the City of Annapolis should contact Regina Watkins-Eldridge at 410.263.7942, by MD Relay (711), or by email at [email protected] at least five days prior to the meeting date to request assistance. If you are unable to attend, you can still submit public testimony at http://www.annapolis.gov/testimony.

Public hearings

• O-37-21 - Exempt Service - Position Classification Update - For the purpose of removing the Development/Events Specialist position from the Exempt Service position classifications.
• O-38-21 - Illicit Discharges and Connections - Stormwater - For the purpose of regulating the contribution of pollutants to the City separate storm sewer system (MS4) by stormwater discharges by any user; prohibiting illicit connections and discharges to the City separate storm sewer system (MS4); establishing legal authority for the City to carry out all inspection, surveillance and monitoring procedures; providing definitions; providing for enforcement of violations; providing an appeal process; and generally relating to illicit discharge and connections. I believe, for the most part, this is just house-keeping; better implementing a State-required program. I will be digging into this when it comes to Environmental Matters Committee.
  

Legislation being introduced on First Reader

• O-1-22 - Fire Prevention Code - Sprinkler Systems - For the purpose of requiring property owners to install sprinkler systems; encouraging property owners to solicit bids from licensed minority business enterprises; identifying loan eligibility requirements under the sprinkler assistance revolving fund; clarifying costs that may be funded; establishing a loan amount; identifying loan repayment criteria; setting a date for sprinkler installation compliance; identifying the responsibility of applicable property owners; identifying the appropriate body for appeals; and generally relating to the Fire Prevention Code. This would require that sprinklers be installed on Commercial businesses within the City, as long as there is a lateral water line, within 3-5 years of passage of this Ordinance.
• O-2-22 - Mooring Permits - Forfeiture - For the purpose of modifying the use requirement of moorings in City waters; and generally relating to mooring permits. The purpose of this ordinance is to dictate under what circumstances a leased annual morring must be forfeited due to lack of use.
• O-3-22 - New Cingular Wireless PCS, LLC, d/b/a AT&T Mobility Corporation - Lease Agreement - For the purpose of approving the lease for certain City-owned property within the City of Annapolis between New Cingular Wireless PCS, LLC, d/b/a AT&T Mobility Corporation and the City of Annapolis; and matters generally relating to said Lease Agreement. This provides approval for a new lease of City utility poles, streetlight poles, and other facilities for placement of small-cell antennas.
• O-4-22 - Aggressive Panhandling - For the purpose of clarifying that aggressive panhandling is a misdemeanor offense; and generally relating to aggressive panhandling.
• O-5-22 - Public Services - Water and Sewer - For the purpose of clarifying who may tap or connect with a public sewer, water main, or stormwater line; providing for a qualified laboratory to sample and test a water line for chlorine or bacteria in certain circumstances; updating certain terms; requiring individual water meters for certain commercial units; requiring individual sewer cleanouts for dwelling and commercial units; and generally relating to public water and sewer services.
• O-6-22 - Medical Cannabis Dispensaries - For the purpose of allowing medical cannabis dispensaries in certain zoning districts within the City of Annapolis; adding a use subject to standards; adding certain definitions; and generally relating to medical cannabis dispensaries. You can view a map of where the dispensaries would be allowed (the blue area that doesn’t fall under a green bubble).
• O-7-22 - Rental Operator's License - For the purpose of clarifying the eligibility requirements for a short-term rental operator's license; providing certain definitions; making technical corrections; and generally relating to a rental operator's license. The legislative intent of this ordinance is to ensure that the City Code’s stipulation that a short-term rental licensee may not hold more than one license is enforceable without loopholes.
• R-1-22 - Compensation of Acting Department Director Agyemang-Duah - For the purpose of expressly consenting to compensate an acting director when a directorship remains vacant for six-months.
• R-2-22 - Hurricane Ida - Small Business Financing - Chris's Charcoal Pit House of Annapolis Inc. - For the purpose of supporting the distribution of grant funds through the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) Neighborhood BusinessWorks Program (NBW Program) to Chris's Charcoal Pit House of Annapolis Inc., which was severely impacted by the Hurricane Ida disaster.
• R-3-22 - Hurricane Ida - Small Business Financing - Annapolis International Market, LLC - For the purpose of supporting the distribution of grant funds through the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) Neighborhood Business Works Program (NBW Program) to Annapolis International Market, LLC, which was severely impacted by the Hurricane Ida disaster.
• R-4-22 - Hurricane Ida - Small Business Financing - KA Annapolis Holdings LLC d/b/a Kiddie Academy of Annapolis - For the purpose of supporting the distribution of grant funds through the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) Neighborhood BusinessWorks Program (NBW Program) to KA Annapolis Holdings LLC d/b/a Kiddie Academy of Annapolis, which was severely impacted by the Hurricane Ida disaster.
• R-5-22 - Extension of State of Emergency - For the purpose of extending the State of Emergency for the City of Annapolis; and providing for its termination.
• R-31-22 - Standing Committee Appointments - For the purpose of confirming recommended appointments to the aldermanic Standing Committees.

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

• R-31-22 - Standing Committee Appointments - For the purpose of confirming recommended appointments to the aldermanic Standing Committees. The Mayor is proposing a few changes on the standing committees. For me personally, he is proposing to remove me from Rules & Government Committee and onto Transportation Committee.
• O-39-21 - Rental Unit Licenses - For the purpose of clarifying who is eligible to apply for a rental unit license; providing certain definitions; and generally relating to rental licenses. This Ordinance will close a loophole and ensure that individuals do not hold more than one short-term rental license. The intention is to ensure we don’t have blocks where multiple homes have been bought up by a single owner and converted into short-term rentals, thus displacing actual residents.

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