At tomorrow’s Council meeting, we will be holding a public hearing on a new piece of legislation that would establish a Tenant Displacement Fund, to help relocate lower income residents when/if their units are deemed unfit for human habitation. Also, we have two new pieces of legislation being introduced: one would help us become a Bird City, and the other would move forward with condemning an old gas station site at West St & Monticello so that the city can acquire it and install hopefully a public park and some affordable housing.

Also, we will be having a final vote on our Annapolis Plastic Bag Reduction Act, which mostly copies the County’s legislation at this point. And we will also be voting on a Resolution showing our support of the Eastport Choice Neighborhood Initiative Transformation Plan that would redevelop some older public housing as well as the old Spa Rd Public Works property into mixed use housing.

Lastly, just a reminder that the Council will be in recess during the month of August, so I may be slower than normal in getting back to you.

Stay healthy and stay safe,

Rob

Next Council meeting – 7/22/24 (agenda)

This meeting starts 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

• O-11-24 - Tenant Displacement Fund - For the purpose of establishing a fund for providing assistance to tenants who are displaced when rental units are deemed unfit for human habitation by the City; basing funding for tenants on specific criteria; and generally related to emergency housing needs in the City of Annapolis.
• O-15-24 - Issuance of General Obligation Bonds and Bond Anticipation Notes

Legislation being introduced on first reader

• R-38-24 - Condemnation and Possession of Real Property at 233 West Street - For the purpose of authorizing the condemnation and possession of real property at 233 West Street necessary for the purpose of removing a severe public health and safety hazard related to a blighted and vacant lot and authorizing the construction of affordable housing on the blighted and vacant lot in the City of Annapolis. This is a dilapidated site that used to be a gas station. I’m in favor of the City doing whatever it needs to in order to acquire this property and put it to some sort of public good. Since I used to live just a block or two away, I really want to see at least a portion of the property be turned into open/green space. I’m currently fine with adding some housing on it as well, as long as it’s mixed use. If you have thoughts on this property, please let me know.
• R-41-24 - Bird City Maryland Initiative - For the purpose of encouraging the City of Annapolis to implement sound bird-conservation practices and offering education to the public about the interactions between birds and people and about the contributions birds make to a healthy community.

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

• O-5-24 - Health and Safety - City of Annapolis Plastic Bag Reduction Act - For the purpose of prohibiting the retail distribution of plastic bags in the City, with some exceptions; defining certain terms; establishing the duties of certain retail establishments; providing for the enforcement of the prohibition on plastic bags; allowing retail establishments to distribute paper and reusable bags at no cost during certain times of the year; requiring public notice of the requirements; and generally relating to public safety. I’m strongly inclined to support this, considering it’s my legislation, as I do think we need to move away from plastic bags and we also need to match what the County has done on this issue. We made a few minor tweaks to the County’s legislation but nothing major.
• R-19-24 - Eastport Choice Neighborhood Initiative Transformation - For the purpose of adopting the Eastport Choice Neighborhood Initiative (CNI) Transformation Plan, which was recently approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and approving the use of the former City of Annapolis Public Works Property on Spa Road to meet the Plan's goals. Pending comments from you, I’m inclined to support this show of support. I have amendments proposed to tweak the language but also make it clear that we are fully aware that this property has contamination, we are investigating fully, and will work with MDE to determine and implement any remediation or mitigation measures that will be required or needed. For this property to include housing, we need to do this. But if done right, which I am confident it will be, this will be a great example of adaptive reuse of contaminated property. I am hoping we can include mixed use on the property that will include office space for City employees, recreational fields, and open space for the general public.
• R-35-24 - Scheduling Conflicts Between City Council Meetings and Committee, Board, and Commission Meetings - For the purpose of eliminating conflicts when the City Council and its standing committees are scheduled to meet; and generally relating to meeting schedules of City committees, boards, and commissions.

Community & Political updates

Anne Arundel County River Days

Annapolis on-demand transportation program

Summer Concert Series

Public Water Access Plan public comment period

City Dock redevelopment update & fact sheet