I have some more good news for Ward 7. This summer I mentioned how the City has closed the deal, with support from State/federal funding/partners, on purchasing and protecting the Elktonia Carr’s Beach property, which was previously slated for development of 50 or so townhomes. Now the City is moving forward with the last piece of this initiative, which is the Moore property (see image below). On Monday’s Council agenda is Supplemental Appropriation (SA-13-23), which would put forward some City bond funding to get this effort solidified. I believe the plan would be to provide a home for Blacks of the Chesapeake. This is very exciting news for Ward 7, the environment, and for the African American community!

On October 18^th, the Capital Gazette is hosting a debate between County Executive candidates Steuart Pittman and Jessica Haire. You can get information here. Also, they are asking for questions, which you can submit here.

Stay healthy and stay safe,

Rob

Next Council meeting – 10/10/22 (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

• 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 being introduced on first reader

• O-31-22 - Revenue and Finance - Budget - Annapolis Community Grant Program - For the purpose of requiring that all recipients of City community grant funds have proof of non-profit status; clarifying definitions; adding acceptable proof; expanding requirements for grantees; and generally dealing with community grant allocations.
• O-39-22 - Administration - Mayor - Harbormaster - For the purpose of the City of Annapolis Harbormaster reporting to the Deputy City Manager for Resiliency and Sustainability rather than the Director of Recreation and Parks; and generally related to Harbormaster duties.
• O-41-22 - Administration - Rules of Procedure - Reading, amendment and passage of ordinances, etc. - Staff Reports - For the purpose of requiring staff reports on charter amendments, ordinances, and resolutions.
• O-46-22 - Issuance of General Obligation Bonds and Bond Anticipation Notes
• O-47-22 - Vehicles and Traffic - Special Residential Parking Districts - Nonresident Parking Permits & Temporary Passes - For the purpose of allowing guest parking passes for City of Annapolis property owners who reside in the City seasonally; and generally relating to off-street parking.
• O-49-22 - Planning and Zoning - Parking and Loading Regulations - Parking fee-in-lieu of meeting off-street parking requirements. - For the purpose of authorizing a parking fee-in-lieu for certain businesses required to provide parking spaces; and generally relating to off-street parking requirements.
• R-41-22 - Military Bowl Parade and Football Game - For the purpose of identifying the Military Bowl Parade and Football Game that will be held on December 28, 2022, as a Major Special Event; and waiving charges for certain City of Annapolis costs related to city services for that event.
• R-51-22 - Director of Transportation - Markus G. Moore - For the purpose of expressly confirming the appointment of Markus G. Moore as the Director of Transportation; and consenting to compensate the Director.
• R-53-22 - Sailing Vessel Lynx - Docking Fee Waiver - For the purpose of waiving the fees for docking the Sailing Vessel Lynx at the Annapolis City Dock for ten days in October 2022.

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

• O-9-22 - Off-Street Parking Requirements - Food Establishments - For the purpose of eliminating off-street parking requirements for bars, taverns, delicatessens, restaurants, and social clubs; and generally relating to off-street parking requirements. I believe this legislation will be removed from the agenda, but regardless, I wanted to express my current position on this legislation. If passed, this would remove the parking requirements entirely for all restaurants in the entire City. While I do support the goal of moving away from car-centric transportation, I think this goes too far as currently written. Ward 7 would not be impacted if this passes, because we do have ample parking for the most part, for restaurants in particular. However, some Wards, like Ward 8 (Eastport), would potentially feel this even more, give that they have less parking available than any other Ward. If restaurant patrons visit an establishment, they would then likely park on the street, which could impact residents unless paired with some kind of residential permit. In lieu of this all or nothing approach, I’m more inclined to support legislation that would reduce the parking requirements, create a waiver system, create a fee-in-lieu that would go towards addressing mobility issues in the City, and allow for a public process where the public could comment before parking is waived for a particular establishment. We are working on such a compromise legislation. I also want to be clear that this legislation is not directly about outdoor dining, it’s about removing parking requirements, which would enable things like outdoor dining. However, even if this does not pass, we have separate legislation already passed that allows for outdoor dining, and we will extend that if need be. I don’t believe there is anyone on the Council who opposes outdoor dining. All that said, I’m inclined to vote no on this legislation, pending any comments from you.
• O-19-22 - Stanton Center Lease Agreement (Anne Arundel Workforce Development Corporation) - 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 Workforce Development Corporation and the City of Annapolis; providing an effective date; and matters generally relating to said Lease Agreement. I’m inclined to support this, pending comments from you.
• O-22-22 - Stanton Center Lease Agreement (Annapolis Arts District, 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 Annapolis Arts District, Inc. and the City of Annapolis; providing an effective date; and matters generally relating to said Lease Agreement. I’m inclined to support this, pending comments from you.
• O-23-22 - Stanton Center Lease Agreement (We Care And Friends, 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 We Care And Friends, Inc. and the City of Annapolis; providing an effective date; and matters generally relating to said Lease Agreement. I’m inclined to support this, pending comments from you.
• O-27-22 - Public Services - Water Service - Billing - Waiving Late Penalties -- For the purpose of allowing the Finance Director to waive certain late utility penalties, and generally regarding City of Annapolis utility fees. I am a co-sponsor of this legislation. I’m strongly inclined to support this, pending comments from you.
• O-28-22 - Vehicles and Traffic - Parking Meters - Parking in metered space - For the purpose of extending time allowed in metered space. I’m inclined to support this, pending comments from you.
• O-32-22 - Human Resources - Exempt Service - Salary - For the purpose of modifying the assistant city manager position salary, creating a new special projects/arts administration position, and changing the number of days that temporary employees shall be employed. I’m inclined to support this, pending comments from you.
• R-32-22 - Chesapeake Bay Trust (CBT)/Anne Arundel County and City of Annapolis Watershed Restoration Grant Program Permit Fees Waiver - For the purpose of waiving the permit fees in connection with the CBT Watershed Restoration Grant Program projects. I am a sponsor on this legislation. Currently, we award grant money to organizations or individuals that want to do watershed restoration work, and they end up using our awarded money to pay the City for permit fees. This seems a bit circuitous so this legislation would follow the County’s lead and waive such fees. I’m inclined to support this legislation, pending comments from you.

Community & Political updates

Parking tips for the fall boat show

Latino Social Justice Virtual Forum

Haunted Hilltop (Halloween celebration at Rec Center)

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

Maryland Hall – Healing Conversations – unlocking the transformative tools of art therapy

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.