Happy Earth Day! Looks to be a beautiful weekend. I hope you find some time to be outside and take a hike in one of our City Parks.

We don’t have any legislation up for a public hearing at Monday’s Council meeting, but feel free to send me your thoughts on anything listed that’s up for a final vote.

Ward 7 Town Hall meeting!!

After a long pandemic-induced hiatus, I’ve scheduled a Ward 7 Town Hall meeting. Please mark your calendar for May 10^th, 7-8:30pm at the Eastport-Annapolis Neck Library. As usual, I could use help distributing flyers. If you can help with this in your neighborhood, please let me know as this would be a huge help.

Stay healthy and stay safe,

Rob

Next In-person Council meeting – 4/25/22 (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.

Motion to reconsider

• R-22-22 - Extension and study of outdoor dining – I believe this is being reconsidered because at our last meeting this Resolution was amended and passed to only allow outdoor dining for 60 days and required the completion of a study by our new P&Z Director within that time. I did not support the 60-day limitation nor the short timeframe given to our new Director. I support perpetual outdoor dining, though the City needs to work on ensuring any temporary structures like tents are compliant with our code and blend in with the neighborhoods.

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

• 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. If amended as Environmental Matters Committee is recommending, this legislation would require that the Harbor Master is notified when an annual mooring will be vacant for 30 days or more. Such vacancy cannot exceed 70 days. If it does, the City has the right to revoke the permit for the mooring. Pending comments from you, I’m inclined to support as amended.
• O-12-22 - Special Events - For the purpose of clarifying special event permitting procedures; providing for certain exemptions; providing certain definitions; authorizing the promulgation of rules and regulations; and generally relating to special events. This makes a number of improvements to our special events code, making different categories and refining the process. I’m inclined to support this legislaiton, pending any comments from you.
• O-13-22 - Sidewalk Cafe - Defined - For the purpose of modifying the definition of sidewalk cafe. The purpose of this legislation is to cause the City Code provisions related to sidewalk cafés to apply to leased parklets where food, refreshments, and/or beverages are sold. I’m inclined to support this legislation, pending any comments from you.
• O-14-22 - Debit Card and Credit Card Payments - Convenience Fees - For the purpose of modifying the procedure for assessing convenience fees for payment of City services by debit card or credit card; and generally relating to processing convenience fees. This would allow the City to charge “convenience fees” for online transactions. The rationale is that it costs the City more money to allow credit cards versus other forms of payment. I’m inclined to support, pending any comments from you.
• R-19-22 - Water Service Agreement - 1049 Chesapeake Harbour Drive - For the purpose of authorizing a water service agreement providing for the extension of City water service to 1049 Chesapeake Harbour Drive located in Anne Arundel County; and generally relating to providing said water service. This would allow a neighboring County resident, whose water wells are failing, to connect to our City utility at 3x the rate charged to residents. I’m inclined to support this, pending any comments from you.
• R-25-22 - Bates Middle School - HVAC Renovation Project - Waiver of Permitting Fees - For the purpose of waiving City permitting fees for the Bates Middle School HVAC renovation project. We don’t have an estimate yet how much in fees we are talking about waiving, so I’m not yet sure about how I’ll vote on this. Considering how much money our school district gets, I’m generally not sympathetic to any requests to waive fees.
• R-27-22 - Annapolis UpRigging: Maritime and Heritage Festival - Fee Waiver - For the purpose of waiving certain City fees for the docking of tall ships the Pride of Baltimore II and Lynx at the Annapolis City Dock; and expressing the support of the City Council for the First Annual Special Event "Annapolis UpRigging: Maritime and Heritage Festival". I’m inclined to support this Resolution, pending any comments from you.