|
WARD 7 NEWSLETTER
Alderman Rob Savidge · City of Annapolis · June 21, 2026
|
| MARK YOUR CALENDAR |
Mon, Jun 22 · City Council Special Meeting
CRAB annual report and the O-14-26 public hearing. City Hall, 7 PM.
|
Fri, Jul 3 · City offices closed
“Hamilton” under the Liberty Tree, St. John’s College, pre-show 7:30 PM.
|
Sat, Jul 4 · Annapolis 250: July 4th Parade and Fireworks
Parade 6:30 PM, fireworks about 9:15 PM over Spa Creek.
|
Aug 12 and Aug 17 · Youth Cover Art and Youth Poetry deadlines
See below.
|
|
|
Last Meeting Recap: Monday, June 8
|
|
Here’s what the Council did at our last regular meeting.
| • |
FY27 budget adopted, unanimously. We gave final approval to the FY27 budget (O-8-26, with the LB-1 balancing amendment that reconciled our June 1 changes), along with the FY27 fees (R-10-26), fines (R-11-26), and position/pay plan (R-12-26). It’s one of the few unanimous budgets we’ve had in a while, a credit to a process that is genuinely getting more collaborative, though admittedly it needs more improvement. |
| • |
New HR Director confirmed. The Council confirmed Charles A. Hall, Jr. as Human Resources Director (R-18-26) on second reader. |
| • |
Finance Director: introduced, not rushed. Karen Ajayi’s nomination (R-19-26) was introduced on first reader. A motion to suspend the rules and confirm her the same night was made and then withdrawn. I support confirming her, but I spoke against suspending the rules. I want appointments to go through the normal first-reader and second-reader process so the public can weigh in. It now comes back on second reader June 22 (see below). |
| • |
Art in Public Places introduced. O-14-26 was adopted on first reader and referred to the Rules & City Government Committee. Its public hearing is this Monday (see below). |
| • |
Grants approved. A $683,200 federal Safe Streets & Roads grant plus $159,700 from the Capital Reserve for the City’s Safe Streets project (SA-22-26), and a roughly $21,400 Fire grant match for defibrillator replacement (SA-21-26) on the consent calendar. |
|
|
CRAB: Annual Report to the Council (in our Ward)
|
|
President and CEO Paul Bollinger will present Chesapeake Region Accessible Boating’s annual report Monday. CRAB’s mission is to provide the therapeutic benefits of sailing to people with disabilities, recovering warriors, and youth from underserved communities, and its Annapolis Adaptive Boating Center is right here in Ward 7. I’m proud to have this organization in our community.
|
|
2025 by the numbers
1,755 guests served (61% with disabilities) · 33 partner nonprofits · 137 active volunteers contributing 5,145 volunteer hours · 158 scheduled on-water programs and 32 wellness programs.
Looking ahead to 2026
It’s CRAB’s 35th anniversary year and the 20th Annual CRAB Cup Race and Shore Party. Their goals: serve 2,000+ guests and grow RC sailing and fishing programs by 50%.
|
|
|
Environmental Matters Committee: June 11 Recap
|
|
As Chair, here are the major takeaways from our June 11 meeting.
| • |
Spa Creek, ten years of data. The Spa Creek Conservancy walked us through a decade of monitoring. The headline: rain is the dominant driver of the swings we see, and nearly half of 2025 sampling days were rain-affected. Bacteria spikes track runoff (not the sewer) and fall within a day or two. Sediment and water clarity remain the most persistent structural concern. Encouragingly, there was no long-term algal bloom in 2025, a welcome contrast to recent mahogany tides, and restoration at Hawkins Cove is showing measurable improvement. Practical guidance for residents: avoid full-contact recreation for one to two days after rain, longer in shallow headwater areas. Bottom line: follow the guidance above and our waterways are safely swimmable. In fact, I just swam across Spa Creek a few weeks ago with the Spa Creek Conservancy.
|
| • |
Forest Conservation Act conformance. Our City Forester briefed us ahead of O-16-26 (below). Maryland is shifting from “no net loss” to a net gain standard, and urban forests are now a priority retention area, a change that should benefit Annapolis, since most of our forest will likely qualify. We already exceed the State base (20% afforestation vs. 15%, and the 1-to-1 mitigation ratio the State is only now adopting). I also flagged a gap in the State’s new multifamily exemption that I’m developing companion legislation to address. |
| • |
Resilience and sustainability: savings without new City spending. A $408,500 State grant to audit and convert our streetlights to LED (already finding about 100 fixtures we’re billed for that are duplicate or non-existent, with roughly $1.8M in 20-year savings); a community-solar subscription projected to save $66,000 to $127,000 a year at no cost to the City; ongoing free LED retrofits at City fire stations; and the first EV charging going in at the Police Department. |
|
|
Monday, June 22: What’s on the Agenda
|
|
7:00 PM at City Hall, in person. Televised on local cable, YouTube, Facebook, and the City website. Submit written testimony anytime at annapolis.gov/testimony. |
|
|
Public hearing: O-14-26 (Art in Public Places)
This is your chance to weigh in, in person Monday or in writing at annapolis.gov/testimony. O-14-26 (Mayor Littmann) updates the program’s definitions, revises the Commission’s duties, reduces its size, and changes membership, appointment, term, and art-fund rules. As I noted last time, I’m reviewing it closely and expect to propose committee amendments, to restore governance mechanics (terms, Council confirmation, staggering, vacancy procedures) and to preserve geographic equity so every part of the city has a fair shot at public art.
|
|
Legislative action: second readers
| • |
R-19-26, Finance Director, Karen Ajayi (Mayor’s nomination). The June 8 motion to suspend the rules was withdrawn, so this is now on second reader the normal way, which is what I wanted, so the public has its say. I am inclined to support this legislation, pending any input from you.
|
| • |
CA-1-26, Charter and Code publication update (Mayor Littmann). Modernizes how we compile and publish the Charter and Code. My Amendment 1, which keeps the requirement that at least one printed copy stay in the Office of Law, was recommended favorably by the Rules & City Government Committee on June 4. I am inclined to support this legislation as amended, pending any input from you.
|
| • |
O-6-26, firing range oversight (Mayor Littmann). Lets the Police Chief, along with the Mayor, approve who uses the City’s police firing range, a sensible streamlining the Chief supports. Recommended favorably by committee June 4. I am inclined to support this legislation, pending any input from you.
|
| • |
O-10-26, Human Relations Commission size (Alderwoman Contee). Reduces the Commission from 15 to 9 members so it can actually reach quorum and do its work, which it has been unable to do for some time. Recommended favorably June 4. I am inclined to support this legislation, pending any input from you.
|
|
|
Legislative action: first readers (introduced and referred to committee)
These are early in the process, introduced Monday and sent to committee, no vote yet.
| • |
O-16-26, Forest Conservation, conforming to State law (my ordinance). This updates Chapter 21.71 to match Maryland’s new Forest Conservation Act while keeping our stronger local standards. We hold onto our replanting standard rather than the State’s weaker new formula, because ours actually grows canopy instead of just breaking even, and we formalize notice and public comment before high-value forests near streams, in floodplains, and in neighborhoods can be cleared. We must adopt by July 31 or default to the State’s weaker rules, so we’re weighing an accelerated schedule against a temporary six-month pause on new forest applications. I’m leaning toward the pause, which buys time to get it right with minimal disruption. More background on my blog. |
| • |
O-17-26, right to park in front of your own driveway (Aldermen Smith-Brown and Contee). This responds to constituent complaints about being ticketed for parking on the street directly in front of their own driveway. It would let legal occupants and their guests do so on streets permitted for parking on both sides, subject to conditions. I think the intent is right, but it will need more dialogue in committee as we work through amendments, both to get everyone on board and to land on something staff can realistically implement. |
| • |
R-21-26, resident agent for service of process (Mayor Littmann). Designates City Attorney Anthony P. Kupersmith as resident agent for service of process under certain circumstances, a routine administrative measure. |
Also on the agenda: fund transfers and supplementals
| • |
FT-13-26, fourth-quarter budget transfers across several departments, drawing on contingency and vacancy savings. |
| • |
SA-23-26, $573,400 supplemental for Parking and Transportation, mostly the SP+ garage contract, plus transit and fuel. |
|
|
Community & Events
|
|
July 4th in Annapolis: 250 Years Strong
Annapolis celebrates the nation’s 250th on Saturday, July 4. The full schedule of events is in the flyer below. Here are the essentials and the logistics worth knowing before you head out.
| • |
Parade steps off at 6:30 PM at Amos Garrett Boulevard, up West Street, around Church Circle to Northwest Street, ending at Calvert Street. Fireworks begin about 9:15 PM over Spa Creek. |
| • |
Getting there: park at the Hillman, Knighton, Gott’s, or Park Place garages and ride the free downtown “Magenta” shuttle (8 AM to midnight). Overflow parking at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium (Gate 5, $15, card only) with a free shuttle to Lawyers Mall, 4:30 PM to midnight. |
| • |
Road closures: Main Street and the Spa Creek Bridge close around 5 PM and reopen after the fireworks. Prince George, East, and Randall Streets downtown are resident-only parking 2 PM to midnight. Eastport parking restrictions on Severn and Chesapeake Avenues run 4 PM to about 10:30 PM, and vehicles may be towed. |
| • |
On the water: the Spa Creek Bridge draw span is closed to boats 8:30 to 11 PM. Stay clear of the 1,000-foot safety zone around the fireworks barge. |
| • |
Good to know: City offices are closed Friday, July 3. For event alerts, text JULY4 to 38276. No alcohol on streets or sidewalks, and airborne fireworks are prohibited without a license (fines up to $250). |
Rodent prevention: a quick neighborly reminder
Spring and summer are active months for rats. A few simple habits keep them out of our homes and off our blocks: secure trash in sealed cans, keep bird seed and pet food off the ground, clean up pet waste, keep firewood elevated, and cut back overgrowth and leaf piles. The City flyer below shows the warning signs and how to help.
|
|
Community & Political Updates
|
|
Youth Poetry and Cover Art: “Around Each Corner” Vol. 6
Two opportunities for young people through the City’s Hispanic Liaison office are still open. Submit a poem (original, not AI-generated): ages 14 to 18 who live or study in Annapolis, deadline Aug 17, 2026, at annapolis.gov/1965/Youth-Poetry. Be the cover artist: Latin artists ages 15 to 20 who live or study in Annapolis, deadline Aug 12, 2026. The selected artist is featured on the 2026 cover and in the City Hall Latin Art Gallery during Hispanic Heritage Month. Questions: 667-270-3025 or [email protected].
|
|
Thank you, as always, for your engagement.
— Rob
|
|
Showing 1 reaction