We have six pieces of legislation up for a public hearing, which I’ll describe below. But I want to start off with an update on the Parkside Preserve (aka Reserve at Quiet Waters) pollution saga. If you care about this issue, care about our Park, I implore you to sign up to testify at our virtual Council meeting on Monday, to help support the emergency Resolution I’ll be introducing.

Another pollution emergency in Quiet Waters Park – emergency Resolution needs your support

I’ve mentioned previously how a development off Old Annapolis Neck Rd, in our Ward, has been sending pollution into Quiet Waters park. This is entirely preventable pollution that the contractor, Reliable Contracting Inc, has been discharging because they are not and have not been following our environmental regulations. The City’s Department of Public Works is the enforcement agency and they have not escalated enforcement or held this contractor accountable, and now we have had a fifth instance of pollution entering the park. (You can get a detailed chronology/summary here)

I’ve drafted an emergency Resolution whose purpose is to express the Council’s will that the City to utilize the laws we have passed to their fullest extent to secure compliance. If the City staff won’t do their jobs the Council needs to step in. I have an additional amendment that would express that we resolve that Reliable’s permit be suspended (or revoked) pending a full review by the City and the public, and requiring that a new agreement be drafted to ensure compliance and responsiveness to the public concerns.

But to get this passed I need your help. I need your testimony (limited to 3 minutes) at the meeting. My colleagues on the Council need to know how this has been impacting you, how pollution of our park is unacceptable, and how you want them to stand up for our Ward and support us on this. Our Council meeting will be virtual so it couldn’t be easier to sign up to testify. Just fill out this form and click the “live testimony” box. The meeting starts at 7PM and I expect the general public testimony period to start around 7:30, but that could be more or less.

Stay healthy and stay safe,

Rob

Next Virtual Council meeting – 1/24/22 (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. You can submit public testimony at http://www.annapolis.gov/testimony and sign up for live testimony.

Public hearings

• 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-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.

Legislation being introduced on First Reader

• O-8-22 - Alcoholic Beverages - The Market House - For the purpose of modifying the types of alcoholic beverages that may be consumed on the Market House premises. This would allow for all kinds of alcoholic beverages to be consumed in the Market House. Currently it only allows beer & wine.
• R-6-22 - Hurricane Ida - Small Business Financing - JCARS LLC d/b/a Tucker Automotive - 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 JCARS LLC d/b/a Tucker Automotive, which was severely impacted by the Hurricane Ida disaster.
• R-7-22 - An Emergency Declaration Concerning Pollution Discharges - For the purpose of declaring that any amount of pollution, including but not limited to, sediment, muddy water, cloudy water, turbid water, that is discharged from a construction site is unacceptable and clearly prohibited under the Annapolis City Code and the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) sediment and erosion control standards and regulations; and affirming the imposition of stricter enforcement for violations of the City Code and the MDE sediment and erosion control standards and regulations. This is legislation I’m introducing to clarify that we want staff to use their enforcement discretion, currently allowed under the law, to benefit the public and the environment. I also have an amendment that would make it clear the Council wants the City to suspend the grading permit for this polluting contractor, pending a larger review by the City with public comment. I’d also require that a new agreement be made to ensure that the contractor is responsive to the residents and are complying with all of our laws.

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

• 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. This would allow Mr. Agyemag-Duah to continue serving as acting director, since we have not yet found a new Transportation Department director. Pending input from you, I’m inclined to support.